PAG-ASA ISLAND, Kalayaan — Senator Risa Hontiveros visited Pag-asa Island on Saturday, February 21, 2026, to celebrate her 60th birthday and reaffirm the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. During her visit, she committed to securing long-term livelihood assistance and improved medical infrastructure for the island’s residents and military frontliners.
Key Commitments and Actions:
- Livelihood Support: Hontiveros pledged to coordinate with the DSWD and DOLE to secure funds through the Sustainable Livelihood Program. She specifically identified the need for solar-powered cold storage facilities to help local fisherfolk preserve their catch and boost the local economy.
- Medical Mission: The senator organized a medical mission featuring doctors and portable “one-stop labs” for comprehensive health check-ups. She also vowed to work with the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure permanent health facilities are accessible on the island.
- Essential Equipment: Accompanied by PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, Hontiveros provided over 20 portable desalinator machines to support troops stationed across various maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), along with supplies of groceries and essential goods.
- Sovereignty Reaffirmation: The visit served as a direct response to recent suggestions by some politicians to abandon the KIG. Hontiveros emphasized that “our sovereignty is lived and defended daily by the people stationed here” and that the government must show support through action, not just words.
Commodore Tarriela lauded the senator’s “bravery” for joining the maritime domain awareness flight, noting that the mission provided critical resources to those defending the country’s borders.