QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the National Youth Commission (NYC) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help promote the nation’s stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) among the Filipino youth.
The partnership marks a major step forward in enhancing public awareness, countering misinformation, and involving the youth in maritime security initiatives.
PIA Director General Katherine Chloe S. De Castro emphasized that securing the future of the nation through youth dialogues will ensure that our younger citizens will not be easily swayed by fake news or disinformation regarding the WPS issue.
“As the government’s communications arm, PIA is committed to informing, engaging, and uniting Filipinos,” said Director General De Castro.
Likewise, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan commended PIA and highlighted its role in last year’s WPS campaign.
The PCG aims to empower the Filipino youth and believes that they have a critical role to play in the country’s fight for the West Philippine Sea.
PCG aspires to empower the youth with accurate information about the issues surrounding the contested waters so that the future generation can carry on the fight for the country.
“We (PCG) believe that the fight for the WPS will be as strong or weak as how we empower our people and in empowering our people, at most, they should know what is the truth,” said Admiral Gavan.
NYC Chairperson Joseph Francisco R. Ortega emphasized that they believe in the importance of fostering awareness amongst the youth regarding the issues surrounding the WPS and the potential loss of our national waters.
“The youth has always played a crucial role in shaping our nation’s system. Today, we are once again called upon to defend what is rightfully ours using our voices, our knowledge, and our unwavering patriotism.”
The collaboration among the agencies is set to empower Filipinos with credible information and meaningful engagement in protecting the country’s waters through digital campaigns, school visits, and nationwide information drives.
Through this strengthened partnership, the Filipino public can look forward to increased access to reliable maritime security information and expanded opportunities for youth involvement in safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity. (JLN/PIA-NCR)
