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Republic of the Philippines gl
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
Twentieth Congress

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1626

Introduced by Honorable Representatives
LEILA NORMA EULALIA JOSEFA “LEILA” M. DE LIMA (Mamamayang
Liberal)
PERCIVAL V. CENDANA (Akbayan Partylist)
JOSE MANUEL TADEO “CHEL” I. DIOKNO (Akbayan Partylist)
DADAH KIRAM ISMULA (Akbayan Partylist)
ARLENE “KAKA” J. BAG-AO (Dinagat Islands)
CIELO KRISEL B, LAGMAN (Albay, 1* District)

AN ACT DECLARING JULY 12 AS THE NATIONAL WEST PHILIPPINE
SEA VICTORY DAY IN COMMEMORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES’
TRIUMPH BEFORE THE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to formalize the annual commemoration of the landmark
victory of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. It reaffirms the country’s
adherence to the generally accepted principles of international law and
commitment to peace, justice, and international law, as the Constitution

commands.!

On July 12, 2016, the Philippines secured a decisive victory in a landmark
decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The PCA concluded that China's claims to historic rights over most of the South
China Sea, represented by the so-called "nine-dash line," had no legal basis under
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The ruling also

: Article II, Section 2, 1987 Constitution.


affirmed the Philippines’ rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and
continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea.

Despite the decision of the PCA, Chinese vessels remain in the Panatag
Shoal and other parts of the West Philippine Sea. They continue to harass and
threaten Filipino fisherfolk and prevent them from exercising their traditional and
legal fishing rights in the area. Unlawful Chinese activities in the West Philippine
Sea are estimated to have caused at least Thirty-Three Billion Pesos of damage
annually to marine ecosystems within the Philippines’ continental shelf and

exclusive economic zone since the filing of the arbitration case in 2013.2

Declaring July 12 as the West Philippine Sea Victory Day will keep the
spirit of our nation’s landmark triumph alive in the hearts and minds of the
Filipino people. This commemoration will underscore the profound economic and
ecological significance of the West Philippine Sea—an enduring symbol of our

sovereignty, natural wealth, and commitment to the rule of law.

LEILA wom hack JOSEFA “LEILA” M. DE LIMA

Mamamayang Liberal Representative

v. ANA
bayan Representative fEL” I. DIOKNO

DAD: ISMULA AR
Akbayfin Representativ: Dinagat Islands Representative

CIELO KRISEL B. LAGMAN
Albay, 1* District

2 Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs, Cost of China Damage to PH Reefs: P33B a
Year, https://imoa.ph/cost-of-china-damage-to-ph-reefs-p33b-a-year/ (last accessed July 6,
2025)


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1626

Introduced by Honorable Representatives
LEILA NORMA EULALIA JOSEFA “LEILA” M. DE LIMA (Mamamayang
Liberal)
PERCIVAL V. CENDANA (Akbayan Partylist)
JOSE MANUEL TADEO “CHEL” I. DIOKNO (Akbayan Partylist)
DADAH KIRAM ISMULA (Akbayan Partylist)
ARLENE “KAKA” J, BAG-AO (Dinagat Islands)
CIELO KRISEL LAGMAN-LUISTRO (Albay, 1* District)

AN ACT DECLARING JULY 12 AS THE NATIONAL WEST PHILIPPINE
SEA VICTORY DAY IN COMMEMORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES’
TRIUMPH BEFORE THE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SEC. 1. National West Philippine Sea Victory Day. - In order to
commemorate the Philippines’ triumph on the West Philippine Sea dispute before
the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, July twelve
of every year is declared the National West Philippine Sea Victory Day which will

be observed annually as a special working holiday.

Sec. 2, Lead Agency. - The Department of Foreign Affairs, in coordination
with relevant government agencies, is designated as the lead agency in organizing
and coordinating activities for the National West Philippine Sea Victory Day. The
planned activities must highlight the importance of the historic PCA decision
upholding the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, inspire and
instill a sense of patriotism and pride in every Filipino, constantly remind the
government to continually uphold our sovereign rights and territorial integrity,

and emphasize that the policies the government must pursue are consistent with


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the PCA ruling. These activities may include but are not limited to educational
campaigns, seminars, forums, and cultural events to emphasize the historical,
economic and ecological significance of the said ruling. The campaign shall utilize
various media platforms, including but not limited to television, radio, print, and

online channels.

Sec. 3. Appropriations. - This Act will be implemented initially within the
framework of the budget of the DFA for the year it is enacted into law. As far as
practicable, the funds required will be drawn from its line budget appropriations
for policy formulation, development, conduct of personnel development, technical
research, publication and dissemination of studies on Philippine foreign policy.
Thereafter, the amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act
will be included in the budget of the DFA in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

Sec. 4. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any part or provision of this
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not

affected will continue in full force and effect.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or part or parts thereof,
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are repealed, amended, or modified

accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act will take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,