Kinilala ng mga mambabatas ang sakripisyo at serbisyo ng unipormadong hanay, gaya na lamang ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na siyang nagbabantay sa Kalayaan Group of Islands at West Philippine Sea.
Kasunod ito ng pagbisita ng House leaders sa Pag-asa Island nitong Huwebes.
Magkakasamang nagtungo doon sina Speaker Martin Romualdez, Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, at Appropriations Chair Elizaldy Co.
Sinamahan sila mismo ni AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr.
Ayon kay Romualdez, mas nakita nila ngayon ang hamong kinahaharap ng mga Kasundaluhan para lang bantayan ang ating teritoryo.
Kinilala din ng House leader ang ambag ng iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno at maging ng mga residente para matiyak ang maayos na pasilidad sa Pag-asa Island at iba pang islang bahagi ng Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Aniya, maipagmamalaking tunay ang kanilang mga ginagawa para sa Pilipinas.
“I would like to thank our members of the Armed Forces who are all present there and even from the other agencies and departments. They will make you proud. You will be proud and to see what everyone is doing there for the Philippines, everyone, the men and women in uniform and services and the residents there, they are true heroes because as the general said, the chief said, that is in the furthest most point, ang layo na nga e we are all the way out out out there at the edge literally…. You make us very proud po and help is on it’s way,” sabi ni Romualdez.
Malaki naman ang pasasalamat ni Brawner sa pagkakataong mabisita muli ang Pag-asa Island.
Aniya sa kaniyang huling pagbisita doon ay lupa lang ang runway—ngunit ngayon ito ay kongkretong semento na.
Maliban dito ay mayroon na ring kuryente sa buong isla at na-extend na rin ang pantalan upang makadaong ang mga mangingisda ng mas maayos lalo na kapag masama ang panahon.
Aminado naman ang heneral na marami pang dapat ayusin sa Isla.
“It makes me feel very happy. In fact, I’m happy that the Speaker invited me to come with him to Pagasa. This is my third time to visit the island, Pagasa Island. And the last time I was there, the runway, the surface of the runway was still dirt. But this time when we landed, we landed on concrete. It was very nice. It was extended. And I also saw that there was electricity already in the area. The last time I was there, there was no electricity,” pagbabahagi ni Brawner.
Bago bumalik pa-Maynila ay nag-iwan ang mga mambabatas ng solar powered lights para sa lahat ng residente ng isla. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
