ILOILO – To institutionalize patriotism in classrooms, the Iloilo Provincial Government has approved an ordinance requiring the strengthened discussion of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue in all public and private elementary and secondary schools across the province.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Provincial Ordinance No. 2026-347 during its regular session on January 27, mandating the integration of the West Philippine Sea’s historical background, legal basis, and the 2016 arbitral ruling into basic education subjects under the K-12 system.
The measure, formally titled “An Ordinance Enhancing and Strengthening the Discussion on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including its Historical Background, Legal Basis, and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling in Basic Education Subjects in Public and Private Schools in the Province of Iloilo,” carries the short title “Iloilo Legislative Ordinance for Values Formation Through Education on the West Philippine Sea (I-LOVEWPS).”
Authored by 4th District Provincial Board member Rolando Distura and sponsored by 3rd District Provincial Board member Jason Gonzales, the ordinance underscores what lawmakers described as the urgent need to localize national concerns and cultivate civic responsibility among the youth.
“The West Philippine Sea issue remains a matter of national concern, and education plays a vital role in deepening the understanding of this issue among Filipino youth who shall refer to any person enrolled in public/private basic education unit (K-12 system), thereby instilling in them a strong and deep sense of patriotism and national identity, territorial integrity and civic responsibility,” the ordinance stated.
Distura said the legislative initiative reinforces Iloilo’s commitment to shaping students who are well-informed about the country’s sovereign rights and the geopolitical significance of the West Philippine Sea.
The ordinance encourages schools to integrate the topic into key subjects such as Araling Panlipunan or Social Studies, Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP), Sibika at Kultura, Philippine History or Contemporary Issues, and other relevant courses.
Schools are also urged to conduct related activities including poster-making contests, essay-writing competitions, quiz bees, debates, short film contests, and other civic-oriented programs to deepen awareness.
To ensure implementation, the Iloilo provincial government, through the Provincial Education Management Office (PEMO), will coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Iloilo to:
* Develop localized teaching materials and lesson guides;
* Conduct teacher orientation and capacity-building seminars;
* Promote awareness campaigns and school-based programs on the WPS;
* Monitor and assess the integration of the topic at the school level.
The ordinance allocates no less than P1 million annually from the province’s General Fund to support its programs and activities.
With the passage of the I-LOVEWPS ordinance, Iloilo becomes one of the few local government units to formally embed the West Philippine Sea issue into the K-12 curriculum — positioning education as a frontline tool in strengthening nationalism and safeguarding territorial integrity among the next generation./PN
