Updated Chart Planned for UN Submission
The Philippine government is considering submitting an updated nautical chart of Pag-asa Island to the United Nations as part of territorial documentation for the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Andres Centino stated that any submission would require discussion with relevant government agencies, likely including the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The new chart incorporates updated data on Pag-asa’s shoreline, elevations, and surrounding waters. This information was gathered during a joint hydrographic survey conducted by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority and the Philippine Navy’s Naval Meteorological and Oceanographic Center. The survey took place between February and August this year, in accordance with a directive from the National Maritime Council in December 2025.
Mr Centino described the updated chart as more than a technical document, calling it a formal record of Philippine presence and sovereignty over the island. He stated, “It’s actually a declaration that indeed Pag-asa is part of the Republic of the Philippines.” This potential submission follows the Philippines’ formal deposit of its official nautical chart of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, with the UN Secretariat on July 29, under Article 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Pag-asa Island’s Significance and Tensions
Pag-asa Island is the largest of the nine features occupied by the Philippines within the Kalayaan Island Group. It hosts a civilian community, a local government, a school, and personnel from various government agencies. Mr Centino noted that the existing maps of Pag-asa were outdated and required revision based on actual measurements.
The project has been conducted amidst ongoing tensions in the WPS. The Armed Forces of the Philippines recently reported monitoring Chinese naval and coast guard vessels around several disputed features, including Pag-asa, between September 15 and 21. During a recent visit to the island, National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Manny Pacquiao condemned the presence of Chinese ships in Philippine territory, stating, “It’s insulting that they are in our territory. It seems that we are being bullied.”
Alongside Mr Pacquiao, Presidential Adviser for Maritime Concerns Andres Centino and other government personnel visited Pag-asa Island to extend assistance. Kalayaan Mayor Billy Alindogan expressed his happiness at the visit, noting it was the first time so many government agencies had sent representatives. Mayor Alindogan relayed requests for the municipality, including typhoon-resilient housing, a drainage system, an evacuation centre, a water filtration system, and a new municipal hall.
Fishermen on the island expressed mixed feelings about the situation, with some residents accustomed to Chinese vessels while others voiced concerns. One fisherman, Fernan Lozada, stated, “I wish there’s a Filipino vessel on standby. For us fishermen, we cannot help but worry.”
The updated chart provides a more accurate depiction of the island and its surrounding waters, serving as a declaration of Philippine sovereignty amid regional maritime disputes. More details on the chart’s submission to the UN are expected following further discussions among government departments, as reported by The Manila Times.
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