Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chairperson Erwin Tulfo has called on the Senate to fast-track the approval of a measure that would institutionalize the teaching of the Philippines’ maritime territories, including the West Philippine Sea (WPS), to strengthen national unity on sovereignty issues.
Tulfo was referring to Senate Bill No. 1625, or the proposed West Philippine Sea Education Act, which seeks to integrate age-appropriate lessons on the country’s maritime domains into basic and higher education curricular.
“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, as he urged immediate hearings on the proposed measure.
Under the bill, the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), NAMRIA, the National Security Council (NSC), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), will develop curricula, training programs, and teaching materials grounded on internationally recognized facts, Supreme Court rulings, and relevant laws.
Teachers will undergo specialized training, while State Universities and Colleges will be encouraged to expand research on maritime security, governance, and coastal welfare.
Tulfo also highlighted the role of the media in supporting a nationwide information drive on maritime rights and marine ecosystem protection.
“We can only fight for our rights if we know what those rights are. If we delay this, we remain susceptible to disinformation and propaganda that could reshape the mindset of the next generation regarding the West Philippine Sea,” he warned.