The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday confirmed the increasing presence of Filipino fishermen on Pag-asa Island a year after the country lodged a diplomatic protest against China and demanded its withdrawal from the area. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said the PCG fleet that installed the five 30-foot long navigational buoys in four critical islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from May 12 to 14 monitored around 25 Filipino fishing boats on Pag-asa Island. Abu said that the significant increase of Filipino fishermen in the WPS proves that the PCG's intensified presence "boosts their confidence and makes them feel safe and protected while fishing in these water."

Baroña, F. J. C. (2022, May 20). More Filipinos fishing on Pag-asa Island. The Manila Times, p. A3.