Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- What is the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) that became controversial after a senator&#x27;s statement suggesting the country give it up?</p><p>The Kalayaan Group of Islands is part of Kalayaan, a fifth class municipality of Palawan.</p><p>It is not synonymous to what is internationally known as the Spratlys, because Spratlys has more features which are not part of the KIG.</p><p>The KIG is composed of over 130 features, including seven islands and two reefs occupied by the Philippines.</p><p>The main features include Pag-asa Island, which is the largest, and Lawak Island, Patag Island, Likas Island, Kota Island, Panata Island, Parola Island, and the Ayungin Reef and Rizal Reef. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/7/lacson-giving-up-kalayaan-islands-like-surrendering-entire-country-1625"><strong>Lacson: &#x27;Giving up Kalayaan islands like surrendering entire country&#x27; </strong></a> </div><p>The KIG was discovered by Filipino adventurer and fishing magnate Tomas Cloma in 1947, who eventually took formal possession of the islands.</p><p>The Philippines started posting troops in Lawak Island in 1970, followed by Kota, Likas, and Pag-asa Island. </p><p>It was formally incorporated as a municipality of Palawan in 1978, under Presidential Decree 1596 of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.  The largest of the islands, Pag-asa Island, is approximately 280 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa in Palawan. While outside the EEZ, it generates a territorial sea of its own as an inhabited island.</p><p>Pag-asa Island is home to a small community of Filipinos, mostly fishermen. It has its own school, clinic, a COMELEC office, the Pag-asa Island Research Station, and barracks for our uniformed personnel. The Philippine flag is hoisted in the island. </p><p>Uniformed personnel are stationed in the other islands and features.</p><p>The 2016 arbitral ruling, which was won by the Philippines, only discussed maritime rights, or our rights in the waters.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>IMPORTANCE TO THE COUNTRY  </strong></div><p>The Kalayaan Group of Islands, particularly Pag-asa Island, is home to hundreds of Filipinos. </p><p>The KIG and the entire West Philippine Sea is important not just in geopolitics, but also in food security and livelihood.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/6/maritime-law-expert-slams-marcoleta-s-call-to-give-up-kalayaan-islands-2031"><strong>Maritime law expert slams Marcoleta’s call to give up Kalayaan islands </strong></a> </div><p>&quot;Ang West Philippine Sea rin ang tinataya na pangalawa sa may pinakamayamang fisheries sa bansa, so kung papakawalan mo ito at ibibigay mo ito sa iba, ano na mangyayari sa 2.5 million Filipinos na nakadepende ang kabuhayan sa West Philippine Sea, ano ang mangyayari sa food security kapag pinag uusapan ang pangisdaan?&quot; said Professor Deo Florence Onda of the UP Marine Science Institute. </p><p>Onda says giving up the KIG poses not just threats to our sovereignty, but it also puts marine biodiversity and the environment at risk.</p><p>&quot;Kung ibibigay natin itong teritoryo sa kapitbahay natin, ang history kasi ng China at ginagawa nila sa West Philippine Sea ay nagpapatunay at nagpapakita ng ano pa pwedeng mangyari pag sila na namamahala dito, nanjan ang artificial island building, reclamation, paggather ng corals at giant clams,&quot; he said.</p><p>Onda asserts it is the Philippine obligation to defend the Kalayaan Group of Islands and the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;Obligasyon din natin ngayon na huwag ibigay ito sa mga pwedeng sumira, ito ay obligasyon ng Pilipinas hindi lamang ng mga Pilipino kundi actually sa lahat ng nakatira sa South China Sea,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Kahit malayo ang Kalayaan Island Group ibig sabihin, hindi ito hiwalay sa atin, karugtong ito ng identidad ng mga Pilipino,&quot; he ended.</p><p> *<br/><br/><em>NOTE: We credit the &#x27;The West Philippine Sea: The Territorial and Maritime Jurisdiction Disputes from a Filipino Perspective&#x27; of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea for information in this report.</em></p><div><br/></div><div><em><strong></strong></em><strong></strong><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong><strong></strong><em><strong></strong></em></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0gnwfnMnBiA?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>What is the Kalayaan Group of Islands, that became controversial after a senator's statement suggesting the country give it up?</p>

What is the Kalayaan Group of Islands, that became controversial after a senator's statement suggesting the country give it up?

What is the Kalayaan Group of Islands and why is it important to PH?

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What is the Kalayaan Group of Islands and why is it important to PH?

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 08, 2026 08:56 PM PHT

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Updated February 08, 2026 11:11 PM PHT

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Kalayaan Group of Islands

West Philippine Sea

Deo Onda

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