ILOILO – A resolution has been filed in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate the West Philippine Sea issue — including its historical context and the 2016 arbitral ruling — into the K-12 basic education curriculum in Western Visayas.
It calls on both the DepEd regional office and the Secretary of Education to ensure that Filipino students, particularly Ilonggos, gain a clear, factual understanding of the West Philippine Sea dispute and the country’s legal victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague.
“This is going to have social significance,” said proponent Provincial Board member Rolando Distura.
He added: “What we are seeing now is a massive bombardment of misinformation. There is a lack of correct information and sometimes China’s narrative is even being accepted. China is a typical bully for disputing and changing the story.”
The resolution aims to fill the gaps in the existing curriculum, which does not consistently cover the geopolitical importance of the West Philippine Sea or the Philippines’ triumph in PCA Case No. 2013-19, which invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash line claim over the entire South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“This move will cultivate national consciousness, maritime awareness, and historical literacy among students. Proper education about the West Philippine Sea and our legal victory can strengthen patriotism, promote the rule of law, and inspire the next generation to defend our sovereignty,” Distura said.
The resolution has been referred to the SP’s Committee on Education, chaired by Provincial Board member Gonzales. A committee hearing will soon be scheduled to invite heads of state universities and colleges, private schools — especially from the social sciences—and DepEd officials as resource persons.
“These stakeholders will help us craft a stronger resolution, one that could eventually spark a national initiative. This could even encourage our senators or congressmen to file a bill at the national level, starting from Iloilo,” said Distura.
He emphasized the economic and national security implications of the maritime dispute, citing vast reserves of natural gas and oil in the area.
“The students, the Filipino people — especially all of us — must understand the historical background and how important this is, not just for sovereignty but also for the country’s economic future,” he said./PN