MANILA, (PIA) — National Task Force Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) Spokesperson and Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela presented the country’s Transparency Initiative on the West Philippine Sea under the Marcos administration, at a regional security meeting Tuesday, emphasizing the need for public awareness about activities in the disputed waters.
Tarriela addressed over 150 officials at the 3rd Quarter Metro Manila Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting in Caloocan City, where he stressed the importance of “collective efforts in raising awareness of the Filipino people on the ongoing activities in the region to promote transparency and accountability.”
Tarriela also outlined two key objectives of the administration’s transparency campaign. The first goal is to educate Filipinos about the territorial dispute and China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea, correcting past misinformation and fostering national unity—a strategy differing from the division seen under the previous administration.
The second aim, he said, is to secure international support for the Philippines’ position. The current administration faces hurdles in this regard, as little was done by the previous government following the 2016 Arbitral Ruling in favor of the Philippines.
By openly addressing China’s assertive actions, the Marcos administration hopes to rally support from longstanding allies such as the United States and the European Union.
“In his 2022 State of the Nation Address, President Marcos made it clear that not an inch of our territory would be surrendered. To win the support of the Filipino people, we must provide them with accurate information about what’s happening in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela emphasized.
The RPOC gathering included heads and representatives from 17 local government units and 36 regional agencies in the National Capital Region, including the Philippine Information Agency.
The regular full council meeting serves as a platform to coordinate and oversee the government’s integrated peace and order initiatives, while also providing a space for interdisciplinary discussion and deliberation on key issues impacting peace and order.
The West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea within Philippine territory, has been a focus of regional tensions due to competing claims from several nations.
This transparency initiative comes amid increased efforts by the Philippines to assert its territorial rights in the face of growing Chinese presence in the area. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
