By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Citing the importance of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as approximately $5 trillion worth of trade passes through the body of water annually, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has expressed hope for peaceful resolution in the disputed area as more members of the international community will join hands in the collective effort to ensure peace and stability in the region.
He noted that the WPS is comprised of more than 60 percent of global maritime trade and more than 22 percent of total global trade.
“The ability of nations to navigate freely is essential for trade, communication, and regional security. We trust that the meeting of the three leaders will prove productive in strengthening cooperation to safeguard this crucial right,” Romualdez said.
At the same time, the leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives on Thursday (11 April 2024) said he is crossing his fingers that the mounting calls from the international community for parties to adhere to rules-based order and freedom of navigation would ultimately lead to a simmering down of tension in the WPS.
He floated this thought even as President Marcos was scheduled to meet with United States (US) President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a historic trilateral summit in Washington, DC.
Romualdez underscored that easing tension in the WPS would be of particular importance to many ordinary Filipino fishermen in the area whose livelihood was adversely affected by the security situation, particularly within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
(el Amigo)
