Fishermen from this coastal town said they were waiting for confirmation from government officials on whether they could return to the contested Scarborough Shoal amid reports that China would soon allow them to fish in the area. Last week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said the government was pushing for a provisional agreement between the Philippine and Chinese governments to allow Filipino fishermen to return to the Scarborough Shoal. The shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc, is 260 kilometers from Zambales province. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella has said China has already agreed to allow Filipino fishermen to fish in the shoal which is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but which the country could not defend against Chinese aggression.

Macatuno, A. (2016, September 4). Zambales fishers raring to return to Scarborough but wait. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A8.