The Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is eyeing the increase of Filipino boats and fishermen in the country's exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

This was bared by AFP-WesCom chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos in a media interview, shortly after the recent Stratbase ADRi forum titled "Implementing a Comprehensive Philippine Maritime Framework to Advance Rule of Law" in Makati City.

Carlos said the primary target is to assert the country's sovereign rights in its own territorial waters. Hence, encouraging more Filipino folks to go fishing in the WPS, particularly in Rozul Reef and Ayungin Shoal.

Asked about the maritime situation in the WPS, Carlos said: "The situational update based on maritime awareness monitoring, the number of foreign vessels loitering in the area is not changing."

The AFP, he added, continues to monitor the waters as part of its domain awareness efforts.

Carlos said these foreign vessels are most swarming in the Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), Rozul Reef, Ayungin Shoal, and Pag-asa Island.

The military official previously reported the "extensive damage" of corals in Rozul Reef and expressed suspicions that Chinese vessels have been harvesting corals from the area.

Despite the swarming activities of the foreign fishing vessels, Carlos was glad to note that Filipino fishermen are still willing to fish in the WPS.

"I'm happy to report na ongoing that we have ongoing efforts to convince our Filipino fishermen to fish in the WPS para ma-exercise natin 'yung atin (so we can exercise our) sovereign rights to fish," he said.

Carlos said more Filipino fishermen have been present in Ayungin Shoal and Rozul Reef for four weeks during the last month.

"I'm happy to note, the number has increased a little. Hindi ko masabi substantially, but we need more. We need to increase their number more. But it's a good start for the last month, dumadami na sila (they were increased)," he added.

Meanwhile, Carlos noted that they are now crafting a National Strategy for WPS.

"The message in strategy. I don't want to sound it—but it's not a complete overhaul of our strategy. It's a normal tweaking of the courses of action that we will take against the situation on the ground," he said.

Carlos added that the strategy also includes the changing of geopolitical situation in the area "with more nations' extensive support to our effort to establish a rules-based international order in the WPS."

"We are all taking these into consideration in putting in on our strategy. A little tweak here and there, not a complete overhaul," he stressed.

"We're okay with the strategy now, but we are tweaking it a little to be more effective in addressing the situation on the ground," he added.

Carlos said the military forces wished to get more resources "so they can perform their job better."

"With the shift in the external security operations from internal security operations, we are expecting also a shift in the allocation of resources and the allocation of the forces to be able to address external security threats," he said.

He also cited that some ships from other areas are now being deployed in the WPS.

"It's a work in progress to strengthen our forces to address external security threats in the WPS," he added.

Carlos said whatever strategies are being used in WPS must be aligned with the national security strategy of the entire Philippines.

"It's more on making it a tune to the situation on the ground," he added.