Bill requires WPS education

A SENATOR has filed a bill seeking to integrate an educational and awareness program in local schools on the portion of the South China Sea that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, locally called the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Senator Erwin T. Tulfo said that Senate Bill No. 1625, WPS Education Act, seeks to institutionalize a comprehensive education and awareness program on the WPS and equip Filipinos with accurate and evidence-based information on the disputed waterway.

“By ensuring accurate, and evidence-based information about the WPS, this empowers Filipino citizens to actively participate in the protection of our maritime rights and contributes to national unity,” the senator said in the explanatory note.

The South China Sea has become a hotbed of clashes between China and the Philippines, who both have claims in the area. Both sides have continually accused each other of raising tensions.

“We cannot be idle while our fellowmen guarding the WPS, especially our fisherfolk, continue to be hurt. We have to be informed about our rights and the policies that must be complied with,” Mr. Tulfo added.

The measure seeks to integrate the education program within basic and higher education curricula through the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). 

The agencies will also be tasked with developing a standardized and updated materials on the South China Sea conduct capacity-building programs for teachers, and ensure accessible digital and printed community-based learning resources.

DepEd and CHED will also coordinate with the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the National Security Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs to create educational materials.

The proposed measure also seeks to create a national information campaign to promote awareness on the Philippines’ maritime rights to the disputed waterways.

The proposed awareness campaign included media productions, documentaries, community fora, and youth-oriented programs.

“Despite the West Philippine Sea being a critical area, there remains limited public awareness and understanding of the WPS. This has to stop,” the senator said.

“We have legal rights over it, and we have to ramp up our efforts so every Filipino will be able to defend our rights over the WPS,” he added.

China claims over 80% of the South China Sea. The disputed waterway sees more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.

A United Nations-backed tribunal based in the Hague in 2016 voided China’s claim for being illegal, but Beijing does not recognize the ruling, putting it at odds with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, who also have claims. — Adrian H. Halili