MANILA, (PIA) — Google has increased the visibility of the label “West Philippine Sea” on its Maps platform, a change that has been warmly welcomed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Filipino lawmakers, and netizens.
Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday hailed the recent update by Google Maps labeling the WPS as a “strong affirmation of the Philippines’ sovereign rights and the increasing global support for its maritime claims.”
Romualdez expressed that the proper and consistent labeling of the WPS on the widely used platform is “welcome news for every Filipino.” He emphasized that this simple yet powerful update reflects the growing global acknowledgment of the Philippines’ rights over the maritime areas within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“This decision to reflect the WPS label is more than a map update. It’s a geopolitical affirmation. This platform shapes global consciousness, and this recognition adds significant weight to our cause,” Romualdez said.
He also urged other mapping services, institutions, and governments to adopt similar practices, stating, “We hope this move will encourage others to follow suit and acknowledge what the law and justice clearly uphold.”
AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Padilla also commended the update, stating that it supports the Philippines’ sovereign rights under international law.
“This affirms international recognition of the country’s sovereign rights, as upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling under UNCLOS,” she said.
Padilla added that the enhancement contributes to accurate representation and boosts public awareness, reinforcing the AFP’s mission to defend national sovereignty.
An X user, @ricci_richy, posted on the platform: “Google Maps has labeled what is rightfully ours as ‘West Philippine Sea’. Apple Maps, we’re waiting.”
“The West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps. We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels,” a Google spokesperson clarified in a statement. It can be viewed/shared through this link: https://g.co/kgs/JUHAzmL
Now, when users search for Scarborough Shoal, it appears within a clearly marked area labeled as the West Philippine Sea, which is recognized as a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos and part of the country’s 200-nautical mile EEZ.
The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague nullified China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea and upheld the Philippines’ rights in its EEZ. While the ruling has been dismissed by Beijing, the Philippine government continues to assert its maritime claims.
It can be recalled that the term “West Philippine Sea” refers to areas of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ EEZ, including the Luzon Sea, Kalayaan Island Group, and the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal.
The use of the term was formalized through Administrative Order No. 29 issued by then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2011, aimed at affirming national sovereignty amid ongoing maritime disputes. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
