DAGUPAN CITY鈥擨nstead of directly challenging China, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday said he would provide social services to the fishermen prevented from fishing in Philippine waters amid an arbitration case over the West Philippine Sea dispute.
During the presidential debate at University of Pangasinan, Binay was asked by a fisherman from Infanta town, who had been stopped from fishing in their seas, what he would do to help displaced fisherfolk.
The Vice President said he would speak to the president of China to relay the concerns of the fishermen.
Approaching the fisherman from the podium and calling him 鈥渂rod,鈥� Binay said he would also help him by providing social services and livelihood opportunities.
鈥淏rod, I understand your suffering 鈥� The first thing I will do is to find a way to speak to the Chinese president while the territorial dispute is still being discussed,鈥� Binay told him.
鈥淚 will work hard, brod, so that you will be given funds so you can start a livelihood.鈥�
He also promised the fisherman that his children would be given free education under a Binay administration.
鈥淵ou fish so you can send your children to school,鈥� Binay said.
鈥淔ree medicines, hospitalization 鈥� the government is there to provide for your everyday needs,鈥� he added.
Binay聽openly supports conducting bilateral talks with China and entering into a joint venture with the economic giant to explore oil and gas in the resource-rich contested waters.
The聽Philippines聽claims that it has full maritime entitlement in the聽West Philippine聽Sea, and that China鈥檚 nine-dash line is invalid under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the聽Sea聽(Unclos) because it overlaps on the country鈥檚 exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and extended continental shelf (ECS).
The聽country has elevated the case to the International Arbitration Tribunal governed by the Unclos. The tribunal recently ruled in favor of the聽Philippines because the case did not involve sovereignty or聽sea聽boundary delimitation. China has refused to participate in the arbitration.
Earlier, Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, who is an advocate of the country鈥檚 claims, said it would be catastrophic if the next administration would withdraw the arbitration case.
Amid the maritime and territorial spat, China has conducted massive land reclamation activities in the area, turning submerged reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military equipment and structures.聽RC
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