Diokno calls for teaching of WPS history to primary, secondary students
Rep. Chel Diokno
MANILA, Philippines — Human rights lawyer and Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno is hoping that members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate will support the proposed measure seeking to mandate the teaching of West Philippine Sea (WPS) history and geography at primary and secondary levels of the country’s education system.
Diokno issued the statement after the Department of Budget and Management turned over the proposed P6.7 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House of Representatives, with the education sector as its biggest gainer if enacted.
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His call also came after a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel chasing a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship collided with a Chinese Navy warship off Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal on August 11.
“Well, I hope we can be helped, and we can also get support from members of Congress and the Senate to make teaching about the West Philippine Sea mandatory at the primary and secondary levels of all our educational institutions,” the lawmaker said in an ambush interview on Wednesday after the screening of “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” documentary.
“All Filipino children, even if they are young, should know the importance of WPS and why it is ours,” he added.
Diokno belongs to the WPS bloc of lawmakers, which consists of Akbayan Reps. Perci Cendaña and Dadah Ismula; Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao; Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima; and Albay 1st District Rep. Krisel Lagman-Luistro, as well as Senator Risa Hontiveros.
The launch of the lawmakers’ coalition also came days after the ninth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award.
Aside from the integration of WPS history and geography into the country’s primary and secondary education, the legislative coalition also lodged a resolution seeking a probe of the sister city agreements between China and the Philippines, and bills pushing to declare the July 12 anniversary arbitral award as “National West Philippine Sea Victory Day.” /mr
