House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is urging Filipinos to volunteer with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) as tensions escalate in the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing the need for unity in defending the country’s maritime territory.

“This is not the time to be silent. Every day, other countries try to occupy our seas,” Romualdez said on March 9, without naming China. “If we ourselves do not act, who else will defend our territories?” 

China’s incursions into Philippine waters have intensified, with its Coast Guard recently attempting to block a Philippine civilian boat delivering supplies to BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal. 

Filipino fisherfolk continue to face harassment, while Chinese militia vessels maintain a persistent presence in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“No country has the right to block our troops, our fisherfolk, and our people in our own seas. We would not trade this out of fear or due to other people’s desires. The West Philippine Sea is ours — not just on paper, but in real life,” Romualdez, who was recently promoted to vice admiral of the PCGA, said. 

China’s two-front strategy

Romualdez warned that China is waging war on two fronts, through maritime aggression and digital propaganda, falsely claiming Palawan as part of its territory in an effort to weaken national resistance and divide Filipinos.

“They are not just using ships; they are also using the internet to make us submit. One day, we will wake up, and they will claim Palawan is no longer ours. We will not let that happen,” he said in Filipino.

The House leader emphasized that defending the country’s territorial integrity is not solely the responsibility of the military. The PCGA, he said, provides an avenue for civilians to contribute to national security, environmental protection, and disaster response.

Volunteers play a vital role in search-and-rescue missions, coastal cleanups, marine biodiversity conservation, and maritime safety education. They also assist in monitoring illegal activities at sea and providing manpower during natural disasters.

“Serving the nation is not just for those in uniform. We all have a role to play. By joining the PCGA, we strengthen our defenses and ensure more people are guarding our waters,” Romualdez said.

11,287 vessels monitored in February

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported on March 11 that it monitored 11,287 vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea from February 1 to 28.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said 9,255 of these were foreign vessels, while 2,032 were domestic.

“For our vessel monitoring all over the archipelago, the AFP successfully monitored 11,287 vessels from February 1 to 28, 2025, highlighting the Philippine Navy’s commitment to maritime security within the nation’s EEZ,” Padilla said in a press briefing.

According to Padilla, among these were nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships and two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels sighted near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), while seven PLA Navy vessels and one CCG vessel were seen near Ayungin Shoal.

The country’s Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the number of monitored vessels has remained “fairly constant” compared to January.

Trinidad clarified that the marine traffic in the disputed waters includes commercial ships from various nations, not just China.

“These are from Panama, Costa Rica, and others. I have to check to be more specific… Chinese (vessels) would only be a very small number,” he said.

However, he reaffirmed that the illegal presence of Chinese vessels within the Philippine EEZ remains a serious concern.

“The actions of the Philippine Navy, Air Force, Army, and the entire AFP will continue amid all the illegal presence of any foreign intruder,” Trinidad said, noting that they conduct regular patrols, air surveillance, and coordinate with other agencies to report foreign ships in the country’s EEZ.

Photo credit: Martin Romualdez Facebook. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.