MANILA, Philippines — United States Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to Puerto Princesa in Palawan, where she will meet with civil society leaders and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Harris is expected to discuss in a speech aboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua the importance of international rules and how it may impact the lives of local community members. She will also announce the $7.5-million worth of assistance the US will provide to the Philippines for the improvement of its maritime law enforcement agencies.
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The 49th US vice president will be the highest ranking American official to ever step foot on Palawan, a province in close proximity to the disputed Spratly Islands.
“As she has done around the world, the vice president will use her trip to Palawan to uphold rules and norms, including the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, unimpeded lawful commerce, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the freedom of navigation,” the Office of the US Vice President said.
Her visit comes in the heels of an incident where military Western Command said the Chinese Coast Guard “forcefully took” custody of a debris of Chinese rocket floating off Pagasa island, which the Chinese Embassy in Manila later denied.
Visit to Tagburos village
Harris will visit Tagburos, a small fishing village home to around 1,500 families. She aims to listen to the stories of the local community who works to get around half of the fish supply of Puerto Princesa.
Village and community leaders along with local residents will be given the opportunity to share their stories with Harris.
“They will discuss the impacts of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing on the village—on the marine ecosystem and the local economy,” her office said.
Briefing with Philippine Coast Guard
Harris will then head to the Puerta Princesa Port for a tour of the BRP Teresa Magbanua and for a briefing with the PCG, which is a beneficiary of training, partnership, and has received equipment from Washington.
She will deliver a speech, again reiterating US’ commitment to its longest treaty ally and emphasize the importance of international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and the freedom of navigation.
“She will recount the human economic impacts of IUU (Illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing on small villages like Tagburos, and argue it is these local residents who suffer the most when international rules and norms are violated,” her office said.
US$7.5-M assistance, new programs
The US will be providing the Philippines an additional $7.5-million worth of assistance to help the country’s maritime law enforcement agencies improve. This can also be used to fund the Philippines’ search and rescue programs, enhance anti-illegal fishing capabilities, and improve maritime domain awareness.
The US Trade and Development Agency, pending congressional notification, also seeks to support the PCG in a vessel traffic management system (VTMS) upgrade.
“This support will help develop a comprehensive VTMS for major ports in the Philippines to enable improved maritime safety, search and rescue operations, and environmental monitoring,” Harris’ office said.
USAID will also announce a grant for a local organization that will focus on conservation and climate change initiatives in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, the US will also increase the visa validity for C1/D crew visas to support Filipino seafarers. — with a report from Franco Luna