School lectures, research facility on West Philippine Sea eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Atin Ito (This is Ours) Coalition and Akbayan Party are set to submit policy proposals urging the government to issue an executive order for mandatory teaching of West Philippine Sea-related issues in schools, among others.

In addition, both groups revealed that they will also propose the creation of a West Philippine Sea Institute to conduct research, education, and exploration, as well as to declare the anniversary of the country’s historic 2016 Arbitral Tribunal victory as a holiday called the National West Philippine Sea Day.

The groups disclosed their plan in a press conference on Thursday days after a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter conducted “dangerous flight maneuvers” directed at a Philippine aircraft.

“At a time when China’s aggression is no longer limited to our seas and skies and is further worsened by the prevalence of fake news and disinformation on social media, the government must proactively push back with education,” Akbayan Partylist first nominee Atty. Chel Diokno said in a statement on Thursday.

“It’s important to teach the history and geography of the West Philippine Sea in schools so that it would be instilled in us that the region is ours,” he added in Filipino.

Diokno also noted that a West Philippine Sea Institute would help in conducting “maritime research, resource exploration in the country’s exclusive economic zone and in crafting the education curriculum.”

For his part, Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña said that it is important to celebrate the anniversary of the country’s historic 2016 Arbitral Tribunal victory. Cendaña authored House Resolution No. 2234, which seeks to declare July 12 as the “National West Philippine Sea Victory Day.”

Beijing’s continued aggression was based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, as it continues to reject the 2016 arbitral ruling that effectively dismissed its claims and ruled in favor of Manila.

The landmark ruling stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, a year after its tense standoff with Beijing over Panatag Shoal, whose lagoon the latter now effectively controls.