This photo issued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows Chinese maritime militia vessels swarming the area of Julian Felipe Reef on December 2, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard handout photo 

MANILA — The president of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association Inc. said commercial vessels passing near contested areas in the West Philippine Sea were also subjected to radio challenges from Chinese Coast Guard.

Commodore Jeremias Simon said the Chinese forces issued radio challenged the commercial vessels that  pass near the contested areas.

“Sa amin naman ay nangyayari yan dumaan ka lang pag medyo napadakit ka, raradyohan ka, so that is air domain and  water domain of our EEZ na malapit doon sa contested areas,” he said.

On a lighter note, Simon said, they did not receive reports from Filipino commercial vessels being tailed or shadowed by Chinese vessels.

“Sa commercial vessel hindi naman nangyayari yung hahabulin ka or you will be forced to leave your route because it's an innocent passage,” he said.

The statement was made during the first  Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association Inc. Blue Ocean Forum, conducted Friday afternoon in Malate, Manila.

The forum was attended by Filipino maritime executives.

According to Simon, they want to share with the Philippine government their expertise when it comes to maritime issues  especially now that tension in the West Philippine Sea has not yet been resolved.

“It’s about time to share, and these are maritime executives from different countries and now back in the Philippines and most of them are not just back and they are still working abroad as maritime executives and we can share yung experiences namin to this government, to this administration that we believe very serious in handling maritime affairs,” Simon said.

Simon added they are ready anytime the government needs their maritime technical  expertise.

“We’re technical people. You know we can always be ready to respond to any kind of technical consultancy that they need. For example in that vessel in the Ayungin Shoal, BRP Sierra Madre, being in the ship of course we are ready to give technical advises,” he reiterated,

Thousands of commercial vessels are passing through the West Philippine Sea according to Simon as it is considered a regular trading route in the region.

Should the tension worsen, it will impact commercial vessels regularly traversing the area, according to Simon.

“It will be affected kasi kung magkakaroon ka ng conflict in the middle of the West Philippine Sea, sino bang mga trading partners? Like Vietnam. Kasi pagka dumiretso ka west ward deretso na yan from Manila bagsak mo Vietnam na. So yang mga areas na yan daanan talaga yan trading routes yan so kung iikot sila or they will took another route that will be very very expensive, that will be costly,” he added.

Despite these, the group is confident the Philippine government is on the right track in dealing with the situation.