•' I
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S.B. No.
)
)
)
SENATE
C' >-~i M
0/7
|i'I&
m I, :
25 JUL14 P4 -02
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
PROMOTING NATIONAL AWARENESS THROUGH THE MANDATORY STUDY 
OF THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The West Philippine Sea dispute is one of the most pressing foreign policy and 
national security issues facing the Philippines. At its core is the conflict between the 
Philippines' maritime entitlements and the People's Republic of China's sweeping claim 
over almost the entire West Philippine Sea (WPS), represented by the so-called "nine- 
dash line."
The Philippines' claim over the WPS is grounded not only in modern 
international law but also in a well-documented history of territorial ownership, 
effective administration, and recognition by foreign powers. Historical records and 
ancient maps support the assertion that parts of the disputed waters and features 
belong to the Philippine territory. Spanish-era maps from as early as the 1700s, 
including Pedro Murillo Velarde's 1734 map depicting parts of the West Philippine Sea 
within the territory of the Spanish-ruled Philippine Islands.1 The colonial government 
of Spain used these maps in governing the archipelago and later passed on to the 
United States under the Treaty of Paris of 1898. The 1900 Treaty of Washington 
further added that "all islands belonging to the Philippine Archipelago, lying outside 
the lines described in Article III" were also ceded to the United States as part of the 
territory of the Philippines.2
Despite these strong legal and historical foundations, China continues to pursue 
aggressive methods to solidify its "nine-dash" claim. It has deployed military vessels 
within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and constructed military 
facilities and other structures on reefs within the Philippine continental shelf. Filipino
1 Janus Bondoc, Panatag Is Proven PH Territory; China Claims It by Bogus History, The Philippine Star, Mar. 27, 2024, 
https://www.philstar,com/the-freeman/opinion/2024/03/27/2343536/panatag-proven-ph-territory-china-daims-it-bogus-history 
(last accessed July 6, 2025)
2 Janvic Mateo, China Has Backed Philippine Maritime Zone - Carpio, The Philippine Star, June 7, 2024, 
https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2024/06/07/2361015/china-has-backed-philippine-maritime-zone-carpio (last accessed July 
6, 2025).
1


fisherfolk continue to be harassed and denied access to their traditional fishing 
grounds.
Thus, in response to China's aggression, in 2013, the Philippine Government 
instituted arbitration proceedings before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 
The Hague, Netherlands, asking for China's "nine-dash line" claim to be invalidated 
for nonconformity to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 
On July 12, 2016, the PCA concluded that China's claims to historic rights over most 
of the South China Sea had no legal basis under the UNCLOS. The ruling also affirmed 
the Philippines' sovereign rights over its Exciusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and 
continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea.
In confronting this challenge, the Constitution provides clear guidance. It 
affirms the country's commitment to pursue an independent foreign policy and a just 
and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the 
nation.3 The Constitution also mandates that the State must "give priority to 
education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and 
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and 
development."4 These constitutional principles emphasize that defending Philippine 
sovereignty requires not only legal and diplomatic action, but also a sustained effort 
to build awareness, and civic responsibility, especially among the youth.
Given the enduring importance of this legal victory and the continuing 
challenges posed by China's refusal to honor the PCA ruling, this bill seeks to integrate 
the history of the West Philippine Sea dispute and the Philippines' legal victory in The 
Hague into the curricula of public and private schools. This will ensure that students 
fully understand the significance of the PCA ruling, the Philippines' right to protect its 
territorial jurisdiction, and the implications of China's refusal to recognize the ruling.
Hence, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS [7
JL
Senator
3 Article II, Section 7 and 9 of the 1987 Constitution.
4 Ibid., Section 17.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 577
■. •'kSffirr of [)
25 JUL 14 P4;02
RECEIVlu.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
PROMOTING NATIONAL AWARENESS THROUGH THE MANDATORY STUDY 
OF THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act will be known as the "West Philippine Sea 
Mandatory Education Act of2025."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies. -
(a) The national territory of the Philippines comprises the Philippine archipelago 
and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or 
jurisdiction.
(b) The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other 
states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial 
integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.
(c) The State must give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, 
and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and 
promote total human liberation and development.
(d) The State must inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and 
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. To this end, the State 
must instill and nurture awareness among young Filipinos of the West Philippine 
Sea, its rich history, the incursions by China into the West Philippine Sea in 
violation of Philippine national sovereignty and the United Nations Convention 
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the legal significance of the ruling


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
C'Award") promulgated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West 
Philippine Sea in 2016.
Sec. 3. Inclusion in the Curriculum. - All public and private educational 
institutions at the primary and secondary levels are directed to include in their curricula 
the history and legal basis of the Philippines'jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea, 
including but not limited to the following:
(a) The meaning and significance of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and 
continental shelf, as well as the Philippine laws that define the Philippines' rights 
and jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea;
(b) The significance of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea 
(UNCLOS) and the ratification of UNCLOS by the Philippines and by China;
(c) The Philippines' sovereignty rights over the EEZ, for the purpose of exploration 
and exploitation, conservation and management of the natural resources, 
whether living or non-living, both renewable and non-renewable, of the sea­
bed, including the subsoil and the superjacent waters, and with regard to other 
activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the resources of the 
zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds;
(d) The Philippines' exclusive rights and jurisdiction with respect to the 
establishment and utilization of artificial islands, off-shore terminals, 
installations and structures, the preservation of the marine environment, 
including the prevention and control of pollution, and scientific research, in 
the EEZ;
(e) The rich history of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, its use as 
traditional fishing grounds by Filipino fisherfolk, and the cultural and economic 
importance of these waters to Philippine coastal communities;
(f) The environmental and economic importance of the marine resources within 
the West Philippine Sea;
(g) The significance of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's Award in favor of the 
Philippines dated July 12, 2016;
(h) The incursions and activities of China in the West Philippine Sea and their 
impact on the Philippines' food security, marine resources, and the 
environment;


1 
(i) The rights and maritime entitlements of the Republic of the Philippines and the
2 
Filipino people, especially in light of the lived experiences of Filipino fisherfolk
3 
in the affected areas;
4 
(j) All other matters the Department of Education (DepEd) may deem necessary.
5 
Sec. 4. Development of the Curriculum. - The DepEd, as the implementing
6 
agency, is mandated to develop age-appropriate curricula, instructional materials, and
7 
teaching modules, in coordination with the National Historical Commission of the
8 
Philippines (NHCP), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), relevant academic
9 
institutions, and civil society organizations, consistent with Section 3 of this Act.
10 
Sec. 5. Appropriations. - This Act will be implemented initially within the
11 
framework of the budget of the DepEd for the year it is enacted into law. As far as
12 
practicable, the funds required will be drawn from its appropriations for policy
13 
formulation, program planning, standards development, and instructional materials
14 
development. Thereafter, the amounts as may be necessary for the implementation
15 
of this Act will be included in the budget of the DepEd in the annual General
16 
Appropriations Act.
17 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days after the
18 
effectivity of this Act, the DepEd is directed to promulgate the rules and regulations
19 
needed for the implementation of this Act.
20 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act
21 
is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected will
22 
continue in full force and effect.
23 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
24 
rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the
25 
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
26 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act takes effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
27 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,