The House of Representatives has pledged to double efforts to push the country's interests in the West Philippine Sea, following Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's strong backing for the initiative.

Kishida on Saturday pledged before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives that Japan would donate to the Philippine Coast Guard 12 seagoing vessels to help patrol the WPS.

The Japanese leader cited the need for the Philippines to enhance its security and defensive capabilities in the disputed waterway.

Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the Japanese government's support, saying that the country has proven itself to be a "dependable, eager, and stable partner of the Philippines in fostering international order." 

"Together with like-minded nations such as the United States, we look forward to solidifying the cooperation blueprint with Japan," the House chief said.

Kishida pushed a trilateral cooperation with the US and the Philippines to safeguard the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, which overlaps with portions of the WPS.

A 2016 arbitral ruling affirmed the WPS as part of the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone while junking China's claim to nearly the entire South China Sea based on its discredited nine-dash-line theory.

In addressing the Philippine Congress, Kishida aired a "renewed commitment" to defend a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," with efforts to secure the safe use of its sea and airspace.

PAF radar

Last month, a Japanese firm delivered a warning and control radar to the Philippine Air Force to improve Air Domain Awareness, according to Kishida.

Following Friday's talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Kishida said Japan has agreed to furnish the Philippine Navy with coastal surveillance radars through an official security assistance deal.

Romualdez stressed the House has been promoting the country's interests in the WPS by augmenting the budgets of the PCG, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other security agencies.

The House has realigned P1.23 billion in confidential funds — sourced from civilian agencies — under the P5.768-trillion proposed national budget for next year to security and intel agencies.

Among the beneficiaries of the realigned funds are the  PCG, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Security Council.

The House, likewise, awarded the Department of Transportation a portion of the realigned budget for the development and expansion of the Pag-asa Island Airport.

Pag-asa Island has an area of 37.2 hectares and is the second largest of the naturally occurring Spratly Islands.

Romualdez assured that Congress, which possesses the power of the purse, will use the national budget to the fullest in protecting the country's maritime interests.

Meanwhile, the proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement will improve military cooperation between Japan and the Philippines and enhance regional security in the region, the National Security Adviser said Sunday.

In a statement, NSA Secretary Eduardo Año said the proposed RAA will facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa.

Año also stated that Japan's pledge to support and supply coastal surveillance radars through the Official Security Assistance program is a "symbol of their dedication" to bolstering partner nations' security and deterrent capacities.

"We are honored to be the first beneficiary of this program, which aligns with our efforts to improve our maritime domain awareness capability, maintain regional stability, and protect the rules-based international order," he said.

"We look forward to the negotiations and implementation of these agreements and initiatives, which will undoubtedly strengthen our partnership and contribute to a more secure and stable Indo-Pacific," he added.

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