The National Maritime Council (NMC) welcomes the inclusion of the “West Philippine Sea” label in Google Maps.
We look at this initiative of Google Maps as a reflection of the growing acceptance that the waters of the West Philippine Sea are within our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and as bolstered by Republic Act 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
It is also a recognition of the practical value of our national prerogative to name our own maritime zones, which will hopefully help encourage consistency in the term’s use by the international community and facilitate the upholding of the freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea, which is largely composed of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The term “West Philippine Sea” was first adopted by the Government in 2012 and has since been widely used by Filipinos across the country and around the world.
The use of the “West Philippine Sea” label in a global platform, such as Google Maps, raises domestic and international public awareness regarding the Philippines’ lawful maritime entitlements.
It provides an internationally visible reference freely available to all across the globe and contributes to a stronger sense of national identity and unity among Filipinos, reinforcing pride in the country’s rights as a maritime and archipelagic nation. Its usage in other global mapping and navigation services would be most welcome.
The NMC reaffirms its commitment to protect and uphold the country’s maritime rights and entitlements, in accordance with international and domestic law, and urges continued unity in promoting the national interest, especially in the West Philippine Sea. (END)
