Senate Office of the Bruetay TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 SEP 29 A11:26 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1424 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT INTEGRATING THE STUDY OF WEST PHILIPPINE SEA IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BASIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS EXPLANATORY NOTE Earlier this month, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) reported that the Department of Education (DepEd) is scheduled to include the study of West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the curriculum of elementary students, specifically for Grades 4, 6, and 104. This laudable initiative aims to educate and enlighten the younger generation of the significance of this maritime domain to the Filipino people, as well as the continuing illegal acts, aggressive encroachment, and bullying tactics of our neighboring country. This move is especially crucial at a time when disinformation is prevalent and false narratives are widely propagated to distort the truth enshrined in the historic 2016 Arbitral Award?. The landmark ruling declared that there was no legal basis for China's nine- dash line claims, and that China violated the Philippines' sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, constructing artificial islands and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone. 1 "DepEd set to implement curriculum covering WPS issues." September 4, 2025. Accessed through: https://pia.gov.ph/news/deped-set-to-implement-curriculum-covering-wps-issues/ 2 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Case No. 2013-19 in the matter of the South China Sea Arbitration before an Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China, 12 July 2016.
This proposed legislation expands the idea of integrating mandatory study of the West Philippine Sea to include all public and private educational institutions, and institutionalizes the same through legislation. To counter truth-twisting, black propaganda and disinformation channeled through elaborate networks which sow confusion and disunity among our people and uitimately aimed to weaken our resolve as a nation, it is imperative that we inculcate in our youth patriotism and pride, nurture full understanding about our legitimate sovereign rights and entitlements under international law, and empower our citizens with knowledge and appreciation beneficial in defending and protecting what is rightfully ours. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
Senate Office of the Caretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 25 SEP 29 All 26 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1424 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT INTEGRATING THE STUDY OF WEST PHILIPPINE SEA IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BASIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "West Philippine Sea Mandatory
2 Education Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The State shall give priority to education
4 to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total 5 human liberation and development. The State shall 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 and understanding among young Filipinos of the West 9 Philippine Sea, its history, and challenges faced by the country which violate Philippine 10 sovereignty and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the legal significance of the ruling promulgated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration 12 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 15 the history and legal basis of the Philippines' jurisdiction and entitlements over the 16 West Philippine Sea, including but not limited to the following:
a) The concept 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, including Republic Act No. 3046, as amended; Republic Act No. 12064 or the "Philippine Maritime Zones Act"; and the Republic Act No. 12065 or the "Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act; b) The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); c) The Philippines' sovereign 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 of these waters to Philippine coastal communities, and the maps documenting the same as being part of the national territory; f) The environmental and economic importance of the marine resources, biodiversity and sea lanes within the West Philippine Sea; g) The Permanent Court of Arbitration Award in favor of the Philippines dated July 12, 2016; h) Illegal activities, encroachment, incursions, and hostile engagements in the West Philippine Sea and their impact on the Philippines' food security, marine resources, and the environment; i) The rights and maritime entitlements of the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people, especially in light of the lived experiences of Filipino fisherfolk;
j) All other matters that the Department of Education may deem necessary and relevant.
Sec. 4. Development of the Curriculum. - The DepEd, as the implementing
4 agency, is mandated to develop age-appropriate curricula, instructional materials and 5 teaching modules, in coordination with the National Historical Commission of the 6 Philippines (NHCP), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), relevant government 7 agencies and academic institutions, consistent with Section 3 of this Act.
Sec. 5. Availability of Resource Materials. - It shall be obligatory for all public
9 and private educational institutions to retain and make available in their libraries an 10 adequate number of copies of summarized and unabridged versions of basic documents, as well as resource materials and maps specifically developed, published and disseminated to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The initial implementation of this Act shall be charged
against the existing budget of the Department of Education. Thereafter, the amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act will be included in the budget of the DepEd in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 7. 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 necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
27 publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Approved,