The government is committed to uphold the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said on Sunday, noting that construction of additional runways in the disputed waters will increase tensions. "The Department of Foreign Affairs had previously filed a diplomatic protest regarding the test flights made on reefs also claimed by the Philippines particularly at Kagitingan Reef, which is well within our exclusive economic zone; hence the building of additional runways contributes to heightened tensions in the region," Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr. said in an interview over state-run DZRB on Sunday.

Tubadeza, K. M. (2016, January 18). Manila to uphold importance of freedom of navigation in West PHL Sea. Business World, p. 10S/1.