Maritime body open to leasing foreign ships for West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines —   The National Maritime Council (NMC) is open to a proposal to lease ships from other countries to shore up the Philippines’ presence in the West Philippine Sea as the country grapples with an increasingly aggressive China.

Sen. Francis Tolentino has urged the government to consider acquiring additional vessels by leasing foreign ships to increase its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the part of the South China Sea that is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

According to the senator, the option is less costly and faster and is already being practiced by superpowers like France and the United Kingdom.

NMC spokesman Alexander Lopez described Tolentino’s proposal as a “good” suggestion.

“Actually, it’s like a stopgap measure. So, while we do not have ours yet, it’s an area, it’s an option for us to lease,” Lopez said at a public briefing aired over state-run People’s Television.

“The suggestion of Sen. Tolentino is a good one. In fact, it was already considered before,” he added.

Lopez, a retired Navy admiral, said the Philippines is capable of securing the West Philippine Sea and is thankful for the support of its allies.

When asked whether it is time for the Philippines to ask for help from other countries, Lopez replied: “The capability development (of agencies securing the West Philippine Sea) is continuous. Actually, when I was still in the service, it was ongoing.”

“We are thankful for their (support) but it’s not like we would ask them for help immediately every time we have a problem because, well, we have dignity as a nation. We can still handle it,” he pointed out.

“Perhaps, when push comes to shove; when worse comes to worst, then that will now be an executive decision, whether we will accede to their request or we will ask for direction. So it’s an executive decision,” he added.

Tolentino floated the idea of leasing foreign ships days after Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua departed from Escoda Shoal.

The PCG vessel was repeatedly rammed by Chinese coast guard ships in the vicinity of the shoal, which is 75 nautical miles from the Philippine baselines. Teresa Magbanua sailed back to its homeport in Palawan after more than five months at sea, to undergo repairs and allow its crew to have furlough and attend to their medical concerns.

Lopez revealed that some Chinese vessels left Escoda Shoal because of bad weather.

“One thing good here is that nature is our ally. Ang bagyo ay kakampi natin (The storm is our ally),” he said.

Earlier, Tolentino said leasing ships is more practical and less expensive than acquiring new ones.

“Even France is doing this from other countries. It would be cheaper and more efficient because we will not be maintaining and will have a flotilla of fleet for the Philippine Coast Guard or the Philippine Navy,” Tolentino said.

He added that the amended procurement law allows such kind of procurement.