Sen. Erwin Tulfo urges colleagues to pass education bill on West PH Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo is pushing for an education bill that will unify a national stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid competing narratives on Philippine territory and sovereignty.

Tulfo, who now chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, called on fellow lawmakers to fast-track Senate Bill No. 1625, or the proposed West Philippine Sea (WPS) Education Act.

The measure seeks to institutionalize a specialized curriculum in both basic and higher education focused on the country’s maritime zones and features.

READ: Experts refute Marcoleta: ‘West Philippine Sea is real’

“Despite being a critical point of Philippine sovereignty, many Filipinos are seemingly in the dark about the West Philippine Sea. We must integrate this into our education system,” Tulfo said in a statement.

“We have to act now. I urge my colleagues to conduct a hearing on this as soon as possible. Time is of the essence in ensuring that Filipinos are well-informed on the situation in the WPS,” he added.

Fifteen senators from across the political spectrum earlier signed a resolution condemning recent public statements made by the Chinese embassy in Manila which criticized Philippine officials and institutions for positions taken in defense of national sovereignty and maritime rights.

Under Senate Resolution No. 256, the lawmakers stressed that the language used by a Chinese embassy official, directed at incumbent members of Congress, departs from “the restraint, courtesy, and responsibility expected of diplomatic communications” and runs counter to “the principles of mutual respect and non-interference” among states.

It also recalled that the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have already denounced attempts by Chinese officials “to intimidate or malign Philippine defense institutions and personnel” and have vowed not to be “silenced by such actions.”

Under Tulfo’s measure, age-appropriate learning materials will be integrated into the syllabi in basic and higher education.

These materials will include, among others, internationally recognized facts, Supreme Court decisions and relevant laws on the WPS.

Developing the materials and training will be a collaboration of the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), National Security Council (NSC), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and other relevant government agencies.

Tulfo said that once enacted, DepEd will be mandated to carry out appropriate training for teachers and educators assigned to teach the WPS curriculum.

He noted that embedding the country’s stance into the education system will be bolstered by rigorous awareness campaigns. /cb