For fishermen whose livelihood depends on the bounty of Scarborough Shoal, any attempt to enter its lagoon is still a “perilous” move while China’s Coast Guard continues to patrol the area. But the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has also recently been patrolling the waters of Scarborough, locally called Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. In a statement last Friday, the PCG commandant, Vice Adm. Artemio Abu, said the increasing number of fishermen returning to the shoal, despite the presence of the Chinese ships, was “proof of our intensified efforts to safeguard Filipino fishermen who consider fishing as their primary source of livelihood.”

Sotelo, Y., Aglibot, J. R., & Aurelio, J. M. (2022, March 29). PH fishers play 'hide-and seek' with sino ships in Scarborough. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A2.