The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) on 17 September 2026 in support of the ongoing Kadiwa ng Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) mission led by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The KBBM mission delivers subsidized diesel and food packs to Filipino fishing boats operating in the vicinity of BDM. To support the mission, the PCG deployed its Piper Navajo aircraft (PCG 302) to provide aerial surveillance, monitor the safety of Filipino fisherfolk and the BFAR vessel serving them, and maintain awareness of foreign vessels operating in the area. The aircraft departed San Fernando City Airport, La Union, and returned safely upon completion of its mission.
During the flight, PCG 302 monitored BFAR’s M/V Mamalakaya conducting fuel distribution in the waters around BDM. Thirty-five (35) Filipino fishing boats (FFBs) were sighted in the area, gathered alongside M/V Mamalakaya to receive diesel and food packs.
PCG 302 also monitored the following Chinese vessels in the vicinity of BDM: three (3) China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, one (1) People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) warship, and three (3) Chinese Maritime Militia vessels (CMMVs). The PLA-N warship issued a radio challenge to PCG 302. The aircraft responded, asserting that it was conducting a lawful maritime patrol within Philippine maritime zones in accordance with international law, and continued its mission unimpeded.
The continued presence of Chinese maritime forces in and around BDM, a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fisherfolk, remains inconsistent with the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Award affirmed that Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen and that China unlawfully prevented them from fishing there.
This mission was carried out in accordance with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to safeguard Filipino fishermen and sustain their livelihood in the West Philippine Sea. The PCG will continue to provide air and surface support to BFAR’s KBBM mission and to conduct regular MDA flights and maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, ensuring that Filipino fisherfolk can safely benefit from the government’s fuel subsidy and assistance programs.
