MANILA — The Philippine government has allocated an additional PHP3.03 billion this year to enhance infrastructure in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the contested Spratly Islands.
Congress has earmarked PHP1.65 billion for the development of Pag-asa Island’s airport and PHP300 million for its shelter port, according to Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel. An additional PHP1.08 billion will fund the second phase of the Lawak Island shelter port.
These investments are part of the 2025 General Appropriations Law and supplement the PHP2.3 billion approved for similar projects in 2024.
Rep. Pimentel, a former chair of the House Committee on Strategic Intelligence, also authored bills to develop Pag-asa Island into a recreational fishing tourism hub and to allocate PHP5 billion for new naval bases in the West Philippine Sea.
Pag-asa, the largest island in the KIG, covers 37.2 hectares and is located 508 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa. Lawak Island, the fourth largest, lies 169 kilometers east of Pag-asa. The KIG includes several other islands and shoals, with a total land area of 83.89 hectares.
The Municipality of Kalayaan was established in 1978 through a presidential decree.
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