The National Youth Commission (NYC) has recommended to the Department of Education (DepEd) to incorporate the West Philippine Sea into the school curriculum in order to raise the awareness of the youth and to establish it as a national issue.
According to Commissioner at large Assistant Secretary Karl Josel Legaspi, the commission is a part of the national advisory council at DepEd which allows it to contribute to discussions regarding the range of issues and policies that can be included in school subjects.
Legaspi also mentioned that, as part of their campaign, they have been visiting universities across the country to inform students that the West Philippine Sea is not just a matter for discussion in Palawan and Luzon, but is a concern for the entire nation.
“We’ve iterated our stand that we should include West Philippine Sea issues as part of our curricula, maraming subjects po ang pwedeng masagap nito eh,” he said in a press briefing after a symposium in Iloilo City. “We want it to become a national issue that can help foster a spirit of nationalism for our youth. Because we’re having a hard time expressing the modern forms of love for our country,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard has confirmed that the National Security Council (NSC) is currently in discussions with DepEd about incorporating this topic into the academic curriculum to help young people understand the importance of the West Philippine Sea at an early age, as well as for future generations.
In January, the PCG produced a comic book titled “The Stories of Teacher Jun” to promote the government’s narratives regarding the West Philippine Sea. The aim of this initiative is to counter China’s ongoing claims of sovereignty over the territory, despite its clear inclusion within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.#
