Daven Tamayo

West Philippine Sea to be included in Araling Panlipunan for grade school students

Some 200 Filipino activists and fisherfolk on May 15, 2024 conduct a 2-day voyage dubbed "West Philippine Sea Atin Ito" led by Akbayan Youth and the Atin Ito Coalition to protest against the continuing incursion of the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea. The group also provided fuel and supplies to fishermen in the contested area. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) will include the topic of the West Philippine Sea in subjects to be learned by Filipino students.According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Deped will specifically incorporate the topic of the West Philippine Sea within the Araling Panlipunan curriculum for Grades 4, 6, and 10.This will take effect beginning School Year 2026. <div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/ph-rejects-china-plan-to-establish-nature-reserve-at-scarborough-1201">Philippines protests China nature reserve plan for Scarborough Shoal </a></div> &quot;This landmark move aims to instill a deeper appreciation for our maritime heritage, educating students on our sovereign rights and territorial integrity in the West Philippine Sea,&quot; the PIA said.This will be done in collaboration with the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and the Philippine Coast Guard.The West Philippine Sea has been a contentious issue between the Philippines and China as it involves China&#x27;s overlapping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, primarily over the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).China&#x27;s &quot;nine-dash line&quot; claim, which disregarded the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, was invalidated by a 2016 international tribunal ruling that favored the Philippines. However, China continued to assert its claims through its aggressive actions in sea, building artificial islands and conducting aggressive maneuvers, maintaining high tensions over the area&#x27;s rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves. Meanwhile, the National Security Council has strongly rejected China&#x27;s declaration of a so-called &quot;Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve&quot; at Bajo de Masinloc, also known as the Scarborough Shoal. &quot;It is patently illegal as it violates UNCLOS, the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, and the 2022 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties,&quot; said the NSC in a statement.The NSC said the move by China was meant to justify its control over a maritime feature that is part of the waters lie within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/12/-we-will-never-leave-ph-coast-guard-walang-planong-umalis-sa-west-philippine-sea-0838">&#x27;We will never leave&#x27;: PH Coast Guard walang planong umalis sa West Philippine Sea </a> </div>&quot;It is a clear pretext towards eventual occupation,&quot; said the NSC. &quot;The irony is clear: since 2016, evidence has shown large-scale harvesting of endangered species and reef destruction by Chinese fishermen, activities even cited by the Arbitral Tribunal,&quot; the agency said. &quot;To now claim stewardship over an ecosystem that they themselves has damaged is both contradictory and misleading.&quot;The NSC also reiterated its support on the filing by the Department of Foreign Affairs of a formal diplomatic protest against the illegal act by China.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will include the topic of the West Philippine Sea in subjects to be learned by Filipino students.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will include the topic of the West Philippine Sea in subjects to be learned by Filipino students.