Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano. INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano has filed a bill seeking to declare July 12 as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day.”
House Bill No. 8809 aims to mark the country’s victory last July 12, 2016 when the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim on the entire South China Sea.
“It is important that we preserve the significance of the ruling; to ensure that our rights and access over the resources (in the West Philippine Sea) are upheld,” he asserted in a statement on Thursday.
Under the proposed measure, the Department of Foreign Affairs is tasked to plan and implement activities for the West Philippine Sea Victory Day to “ensure its meaningful observance.”
It also mandates the Department of Education (Deped) and Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to have the history of the Philippines’ victory in the PCA included in their curriculum. /kga