The plan to develop Pag-asa island in the Spratlys into a tourist spot would only bring more trouble to the island, a ranking security official said yesterday. “Pag-asa island is a municipality. It’s very good to put hotels there but probably not for tourists because that is a contested area and we do not want to compound the problem,” Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said. Just last month, around a hundred Chinese fishing vessels, believed to be maritime militia ships under the direct control of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN), swarmed the waters close to Sandy Cay, a maritime feature that serves as buffer for Pag-asa island.

Laude, J. (2019, August 3). Pag-asa island not for tourists — official. The Philippine Star, p. 3.