MANILA, (PIA) — The Philippines’ ongoing fight over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is a legacy that will be passed to future generations of Filipinos, the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) spokesperson for WPS warned Friday, emphasizing the critical importance of educating young people about the country’s maritime sovereignty.
“The issue of the West Philippine Sea is intergenerational. It will be inherited by the succeeding generations of Filipinos,” said PCG Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela. “That is why it is very important that we know what we are fighting for and why we are fighting for it.”
Expressing unwavering commitment, Tarriela added, “We (our generation) will hold the line.”
In a targeted outreach to some 600 students of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the PCG, alongside the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and National Youth Commission (NYC), is conducting forums designed to provide detailed insights into the maritime rights assertion and combat widespread misinformation.
Tarriela highlighted the challenge of fake news, noting that youth typically manage multiple social media accounts and are vulnerable to misleading narratives.
“If we’re not going to engage our youth right now, they’ll be dependent on social media platforms used by fake news purveyors,” he said.
PIA Director-General Katherine Chloe S. De Castro reinforced this message, stating, “We believe Filipino youth have the strongest voice on social media. We need your help to fight fake news and correct misinformation.”
NYC Commissioner-At-Large Karl Josef Legazpi underscored the broader significance, declaring, “We believe the future of our youth is the sovereignty of the Philippines.”
The campaign extends beyond forums, with PIA’s Metro Manila office actively distributing educational materials nationwide.
PIA National Capital Region chief Emver Cortez explained, “We’re not just circulating information, we’re providing Coast Guard collaterals about our West Philippine Sea campaign, including stickers, posters, and comic books.”
Cortez emphasized the narrative-driven approach, saying they are “storyfying” the West Philippine Sea issue to help citizens understand why they should care about the ongoing struggle.
The campaign is set to continue throughout the year, with plans to reach multiple cities over the next two to three years, ensuring the message reaches every barangay.
The WPS campaign also aims to ensure that young Filipinos understand the historical and ongoing struggle to protect the country’s maritime sovereignty, presenting it as a continuous responsibility that transcends current political administrations. This was supported by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines through static displays and information tidbits.
Meanwhile, the Philippines, under the Marcos administration, continues to assert its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
(Photos: Gelaine Louise Gutierrez/PIA-NCR)
