WPS curriculum set for implementation in schools to combat China’s territorial claims

Starting next school year, public elementary students will formally study the West Philippine Sea (WPS) under a new curriculum initiative by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Task Force for the WPS (NTF-WPS), as part of the government’s effort to counter China’s narratives on the South China Sea dispute.

“Right now, we are formulating the curriculum adjustment for the Grades 4, 6 and 10 that would already include the West Philippine Sea as part of their curriculum,” Commodore Jay Tarriela,

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS, said in a press conference in Camarines Sur on September 3.

“Even at a young age, they would know about the West Philippine Sea and understand its significance for future generations,” he added.

According to Tarriela, the project was developed in collaboration with the University of the Philippines, the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Council, former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal.

The WPS covers the Luzon Sea, the Kalayaan Island Group, and Bajo de Masinloc, areas where China has constructed artificial islands and maintained military presence despite international rulings against its claims.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claims, but
Beijing has continued to assert control over most of the South China Sea, including parts of the WPS, in violation of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Chinese officials and state-run media have consistently spread narratives dismissing Philippine rights in the WPS, a tactic Filipino officials say is meant to justify Beijing’s unlawful occupation.

Tarriela admitted that China’s aggression will not likely be resolved during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“That is why we engage our youth today, to help them understand that the responsibility of fighting for the West Philippine Sea is one they must continue in the years to come,” he said.

The curriculum integration aims to ensure that Filipino children grow up with a strong awareness of their maritime rights and the ongoing challenges to national sovereignty.