The Philippines’ young people have a vital role to play in protecting the country’s vast maritime domain and the resources that will sustain generations to come, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said.

Speaking at the launch of the Bantay Dagat Youth Ambassadors — West Philippine Sea Edition Caravan during the “Safeguarding Our Seas” multi-stakeholder forum on 28 August, Teodoro urged young Filipinos to become advocates for maritime awareness, national resilience, and the country’s sovereign rights.

“Because all the resources, whether in the West Philippine Sea, in the internal waters, or on the Pacific Ocean side of the Philippines, are sources of potential sustenance and energy for future generations,” Teodoro said.

The Defense chief pointed out the Philippines’ unique geography, noting that the country is made up of about 20 percent land and 80 percent water.

“We have 2.4 million square kilometers of maritime domain versus a much, much smaller area of land domain,” he said.

For Teodoro, protecting Philippine waters means looking beyond the West Philippine Sea and safeguarding the country’s broader maritime domain, including the Philippine Rise and other resource-rich areas.

He reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award, while highlighting efforts to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities through military modernization, strategic infrastructure and partnerships with like-minded nations.

Teodoro said the Philippines’ Status of Visiting Forces Agreements with Canada and New Zealand have already taken effect, while the agreement with France is pending Senate concurrence. Formal negotiations for a proposed agreement with the United Kingdom have also begun.

“These alliances are for shared interests. And what are these interests? To secure the maritime domain for the supply chains of like-minded countries that feel threatened by expansionism in their own borders,” he said.

“We need to push back and fight for a proper interpretation of international law,” he added.

Addressing the youth ambassadors, Teodoro warned that growing populations and dwindling resources could fuel competition over territory and resources.

“You cannot stop the growth of human beings or society. But what you can stop is somebody else taking what should be yours to support yourself and giving it to somebody else,” he said.

He urged the young advocates to recognize the importance of their role in defending the country’s maritime interests.