NEWLY designated Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chair Erwin Tulfo is urging the Senate to fast-track the passage of a bill that seeks to institutionalize education on the Philippines’ maritime territories, including the West Philippine Sea (WPS), to help unify the country’s national position on territorial issues.
In a statement on Sunday, February 8, Tulfo called for the immediate consideration of Senate Bill No. 1625, or the proposed West Philippine Sea (WPS) Education Act, which aims to embed a specialized curriculum on the country’s maritime domains in both basic and higher education.
Tulfo stressed that despite the WPS being central to Philippine sovereignty, many Filipinos remain largely uninformed about its significance.
“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,” he said.
He added that lawmakers should act without delay, emphasizing the urgency of holding hearings on the proposed measure to ensure that the public is properly informed about developments in the WPS.
Under the bill, age-appropriate learning materials will be incorporated into school curricula, covering internationally recognized facts, Supreme Court rulings, and relevant Philippine laws related to the West Philippine Sea.
The measure mandates the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), National Security Council (NSC), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to develop the curriculum, training programs, and instructional materials, alongside other concerned government agencies.
Once enacted, DepEd will also be tasked to conduct training for teachers and educators who will handle the WPS curriculum.
Tulfo said the effort to embed the country’s territorial position in the education system should be reinforced by sustained public awareness initiatives.
“The media will play a huge role as we roll out a nationwide information campaign on our maritime rights, the protection of marine ecosystems, and accurate public discourse,” he said.
The bill likewise encourages State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to expand research on maritime security, maritime governance, and the welfare of coastal communities.
“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,” Tulfo added.