Manila, Sept. 18 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) supported the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' (BFAR) fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea, refloating a vessel that ran aground near Hasa-Hasa Shoal.

In a statement on Friday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said BFAR vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat ran aground in the shoal's shallow waters on Thursday while approaching a group of Filipino fishing vessels to distribute fuel to about 15 to 20 boats.

The vessel was in the area under the government's Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM) Program in the Kalayaan Island Group.

Nearby fishing boats initially tried to tow the vessel free, but the eff...