The development of an airport on Pag-asa Island is among the priorities of the government, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday.

Speaking at the distribution of assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and families affected by the dry spell at the Edward S. Hagedorn Coliseum in Puerto Princesa City, Marcos underscored the importance of Palawan in national defense, as well as the role of tourism in the province’s continued growth and development.

Pag-asa is an island in the Kalayaan chain at least 285 nautical miles off Palawan.

The Philippines has long established military and civilian presence in the area, although China is also claiming the island.

Marcos also said the military runway project at the Balabac Island airbase is nearing completion.

Balabac is a town in Palawan strategically close to Chinese fortifications in the West Philippine Sea and is one of the four additional locations for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Meanwhile, Pag-asa Island is the largest island the country controls in the Spratly Island Group.

“Nasa huling bahagi na lang ang paggawa natin ng Balabac military runway, lalo na’t malaki ang papel na gagampanan ng Palawan sa pambansang seguridad (The construction of the Balabac military runway is in the last phase, especially because Palawan plays a big role in national security),” Marcos said.

“Kasama rin siyempre sa ating prayoridad ang pagpapalago ng turismo sa inyong lalawigan at sa pagpapabuti pa ng daloy ng transportasyon dito. Ito ay gagawin natin sa pamamagitan ng Puerto Princesa Airport development project at Pag-asa Island airport project (Included in our priorities are the growth of tourism in your province and the further improvement of the flow of transportation here. We will do this through the Puerto Princesa Airport development project and the Pag-asa Island airport project).”

Last year, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, during his visit to Pag-asa Island, committed to pouring at least PHP3 billion to construct the airport in the island municipality and other development projects.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea with its so-called 10-dash line on maps that stretches more than 1,500 km. off its mainland and encroaches on the respective exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

An international arbitral ruling in 2016 has dismissed the line as having no legal basis. (PNA)