The Philippines must "Acts fast" in occupying its island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Before it loses them to other Claimants, President Duterte said last Saturday in his talk at a philippine-Qatar business forum here. The West Philippine Sea, as declared in an executive order issued by then President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2012, includes that part of the South China Sea covered by the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone 300 miles from Philippine land. It includes Kalayaan islands west of Palawan as well as Scarborough Shoal west of Zambales. The President had earlier ordered government troops to occupy and fortify the islands in the Kalayaan group of islands. After China expressed concern over the move, Duterte assured that no weapon system will be installed on the islands. “We are just there to claim the islands for us because that is really ours,” he said.

Kabiling, G. (2017, April 17). PH must ‘act fast’ on islands in West PH Sea – Duterte. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 13.