MANILA, (PIA) -- The nation’s top government communicator emphasized the importance of the West Philippine Sea, calling it a "narrative of Filipino integrity".

Philippine Information Agency Director-General Jose A. Torres Jr. made the statement in a recent news conference announcing the holding of “Takbo WPS: Ang yaman nito ay para sa Pilipino” advocacy run to further drum up awareness on the nation’s struggle to assert its maritime rights.

“Ang usapin po kasi ng West Philippine Sea ay usapin ng integridad ng Pilipinas, ng bawat Pilipino,” Torres said.

(The issue of the West Philippine Sea is an issue of the integrity of the Philippines, of every Filipino.)

Torres said the Philippine government’s actions are driven by national interest to protect the country’s maritime rights and that the contested area fuels national pride and the country's commitment to territorial integrity.

China, on the other hand, asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, encompassing the West Philippine Sea, based on a claim that was invalidated by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea in 2016.

Despite the international ruling, however, he said there are “a lot of our people” who still fall prey to disinformation propagated to sow confusion among Filipinos on the West Philippine Sea issue. 

“Unfortunately, a lot of our people are misled dun sa mga information na pinapakalat ng mga trolls at iba pang mga pwersa na nagpapakalat ng false narratives,” he added. 

(Unfortunately, a lot of Filipinos are misled by the fake information spread by trolls and other forces that spread false narratives.)

To counter this, aside from the online presence, Torres said the government has implemented strategies to combat the misinformation and disinformation happening at the grassroots level.

"Naniniwala kasi kami na kailangan na maintindihan muna ng lahat, na maintindihan muna ng mga tagapagpalaganap ng impormasyon… Para ma-gauge din natin kung alam ba talaga ng mga information officers ng gobyerno ‘yung mga isyu tungkol sa West Philippines Sea," he said.

(We definitely believe that it is necessary for everyone to understand the issue first, for the disseminators of information to understand it first... So that we can gauge whether the government's information officers really know the issues about the West Philippines Sea.)

Torres highlighted the significance of these strategic communication efforts, noting that they will empower information officers and communicators from various regions to effectively share and clarify accurate and relevant information about the West Philippine Sea with their constituents.

To follow through on these strategies, campaigns such as information caravans, radio programs, and public forums have been launched. The main objective of these initiatives is to provide easily understandable information for people to grasp.

It can be recalled that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through the National Task Force - West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), continues to uphold a policy of "assertive transparency" on the actions of the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea, choosing to publicize the bullying tactics of the Asian superpower.

As a result, the Philippines continues to gain support from the international community as it pushes back against China’s revisionist agenda.

Meanwhile, the Takbo WPS advocacy run is scheduled to take place in three locations: Manila on July 7, Cebu on August 4, and Cagayan de Oro on September 8. Coach Rio Dela Cruz of RunRio mentioned that there is consideration for adding a fourth location in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

The running event will feature four categories: a 2-kilometer (2K), 5K, 10K, and 16K race. In Dapitan, the 16K run will be extended to a 21K marathon.

Initially, the event aimed to accommodate 3,000 participants, but this number may increase based on demand. Registration fees range from P1,000 to P1,500, and all proceeds will support a "West Philippine Sea educational campaign," Dela Cruz said.

The event will include booths showcasing "historical facts and current geopolitical issues" related to the West Philippine Sea, highlighting its beauty and significance.

The run is endorsed by the NTF-WPS and the PIA. (JVD/PIA-NCR)