Senator Erwin Tulfo has filed a bill seeking to mandate the inclusion of lessons on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in basic and higher education curricula following the recent water cannon incident at Escoda Shoal that injured Filipino fisherfolk.

Tulfo filed Senate Bill No. 1625, or the proposed “West Philippine Sea Education Act,” which directs the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to integrate learning topics and materials on the WPS into school curricula nationwide.

“We have to stand as a unified nation in defending what is ours. A good way to do it is to capacitate Filipinos with accurate, evidence-based information,” Tulfo said, adding that better public understanding would enable citizens to take part in protecting the country’s maritime rights.

Citing the Escoda Shoal incident, Tulfo said the government must ensure that Filipinos, particularly those directly affected such as fisherfolk, are informed about the country’s rights and relevant policies concerning the WPS.

“We cannot be idle while our fellowmen guarding the WPS, especially our fisherfolk, continue to be hurt. We have to be informed about our rights and the policies that must be complied with. What’s ours is ours,” he said.

Under the proposed measure, a comprehensive WPS education and awareness program would be institutionalized in both basic and higher education.

The bill also tasks DepEd and CHED to work with agencies including the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), National Security Council (NSC), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and other relevant offices to develop standardized and updated learning materials.

The measure further calls for capacity-building programs for teachers, the production of accessible digital and printed learning resources, and the launch of a nationwide information campaign and research initiatives related to Philippine maritime rights and marine ecosystem protection in the WPS.

Tulfo said public awareness of the West Philippine Sea remains limited despite its importance to national sovereignty, stressing the need to strengthen education efforts so Filipinos are better equipped to understand and defend the country’s maritime claims.

“Despite the West Philippine Sea being a critical area, there remains limited public awareness and understanding of the WPS. This has to stop. We have legal rights over it, and we have to ramp up our efforts so every Filipino will be able to defend our rights over the WPS,” he said.