HAGÅTÑA, Guam (NYMWPS) — Recently, the Political-Military and External Affairs Unit Chief of the U.S. Department of State at the U.S Embassy in Manila, Carl Rian Jensen, and Pauline Piczon, political assistant on rule of law and counterterrorism, met with the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea officials and members.
Dr. Celia Lamkin, the Guam-based NYMWPS founder and global chairperson, said a hybrid meeting was also set up at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall of the Kalayaan Municipality Extension Office in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, the western Philippines.
Those who attended the meeting physically and virtually in Palawan were:
Maurice Phillip Albayda, NYMWPS national chairperson, a councilor of the Kalayaan Municipality; NYMWPS Kalayaan Chapter member Billy Alindogan, vice mayor of Kalayaan Municipality; Eugenio Bitoon-on, NYMWPS councilor and former Kalayaan Municipality mayor; engineer Reniel Rocaberte, NYMWPS Palawan Chapter chair; Francisco Baluyut, NYMWPS Palawan chapter president; and Chinalyn Belidan, NYMWPS Kalayaan chapter member.
Those who attended the meeting via zoom from Guam, San Francisco, California and the Philippine capital of Manila were Dr. Celia Lamkin, chair of the NYMWPS board of trustees; Eduardo Mañalac former undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Energy, former president of the Philippine National Oil Company, and a member of the NYMWPS board of trustees; Capt. Caruso Mario Antonio Tagal of the Philippine Air Force, a retired airline pilot of the Philippine Air Lines and NYMWPS director of membership and board member; Professor Ron Lamkin, NYMWPS member, adviser and consultant; engineer Rad Abarrientos, NYMWPS California, U.S. state chair; Gerald Miranda, NYMWPS former national chairman and board member; and Alphonse Vita, NYMWPS membership committee chair.
Lamkin talked about the mission and goals of the NYMWPS while Albayda presented its accomplishments throughout the last eight years.
Jensen asked how NYMWPS was able to provide basic commodities to the Philippine troops at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal. It was explained that NYMWPS has been working closely and collaborating with the Philippine Western Command in the delivery of such goods.
One of the issues raised in the meeting by Jensen was the recent incident in Ayungin shoal involving a Chinese Coast Guard that used water cannons to prevent the Philippines from delivering supplies to BRP Sierra Madre.
Lamkin suggested a shiprider program between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Philippines to protect the Philippines against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other illegal activities, as well as to deter uninvited vessels from conducting questionable maneuvers within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. This will help ensure peace, security and stability in the West Philippine Sea, Lamkin said.
The connection between energy security national security was raised by Lamkin.
For his part, Eduardo Manalac talked about “how the “economic antics of some investors maneuvered the transfer of operations” in the Malampaya gas field, which is about 40 miles northwest of Palawan.
Jensen, for his part, noted the restrictions on foreign investments in the Philippine energy sector.
The fisheries sector is seen to be a more sustainable economic activity in the West Philippine Sea.
Further, seismic survey established territorial evidence that the West Philippine Sea is an extended continental shelf of Palawan.
However, without a study, the West Philippine Sea will remain a “deeply contested space” as described by Jensen.
The meeting also discussed the profound role of the Philippine youth in raising awareness about protecting their country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“One fact remained unchanged since the Philippines won its arbitration case against China’s nine-dash line claims in the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016,” Lamkin said. “The victory in our West Philippine Sea is the victory of every Filipino.”
The National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea is a transglobal organization that advocates for the preservation of Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity.
U.S. Embassy officials with National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea officers in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. From left, engineer Reniel Rocaberte, MP Albayda, Pauline Riczon, Rian Jensen, Jun Albayda, Billy Alindogan, Chinalyn Belidan and Eugenio “Jun” Bito-onon Jr.
Dr. Celia Lamkin, founder and global chairperson of the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea, meets virtually with U.S. Embassy officials Rian Jensen and Pauline Riczon.
U.S. Embassy officials conduct a hybrid meeting with the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea officers. From left, engineer Reniel Rocaberte, MP Albayda, Pauline Riczon, Rian Jensen, Chinalyn Belidan, Billy Alindogan, Eugenio Bitoon-on Jr., Dr. Celia Lamkin, Eduardo Mañalac and engineer Rad Abarrientos. Not in photo: Professor Ron Lamkin.
MP Albayda, National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea national chair, talks about the accomplishments of the NYMWPS with U.S. Embassy officials during a hybrid meeting in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
U.S. Embassy officials with National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea officers and members: Dr. Celia Lamkin, Francisco Baluyut, Engr, Rad Abarrientos, Professor Ron Lamkin and Gerald Miranda.
U.S. Embassy officials and National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea officers participate in a hybrid meeting.
U.S. Embassy officials and National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea officers conduct a hybrid meeting. From left, Pauline Riczon, Rian Jensen, Dr. Celia Lamkin, Ed Mañalac, Capt. Caruso Mario Antonio Tagal, engineer Rad Abarrientos, Alphonse Vita. Not in photo: Professor Ron Lamkin, Gerald Miranda and Francisco Baluyut.
