Why WPS Matters?

By Herman M. Lagon

There is a strange silence that surrounds the West Philippine Sea issue, especially among many Filipinos who live far from its shores. Some say, “Wala man kami dya sa Palawan,” or “Di naman kami mangingisda.” But if there is anything our recent history—and hard-earned victories—have taught us, it is this: the West Philippine Sea is not just a fisherfolk issue, a Navy issue, or even a President’s issue. It is everyone’s issue. And it is not just about territory—it is about dignity, food security, education, national identity, and the kind of future we want to leave behind for our children.

When my friends ask me why they should care about the West Philippine Sea (WPS), I flip the question back: “Do you care about what you eat? Your internet bill? Your school fees? Your family’s health?” Because the fish we eat, the energy we import, the data we transmit, and the livelihoods we protect are all tied to those contested waters. The WPS covers nearly a third of our country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, holding a treasure trove of marine resources, oil, natural gas, and rare biodiversity. According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, nearly 324,312 metric tons of fish were sourced from it in 2020 alone. When foreign ships scare off our fisherfolk or block our access, that affects our food supply—and the prices we pay in markets, wherever we live.

But beyond economics, the WPS is a test of our collective backbone. In 2016, we won a monumental legal victory against China at the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. The ruling was clear: China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claim has no legal basis. Just this April 2025, Google Maps began labeling the area as the “West Philippine Sea”—a move welcomed by the National Maritime Council as a small but powerful win. For them, it is more than a name—it is a global nod to our legal and moral claim. It strengthens our identity, affirms our rights, and tells the world—and our own people—that this sea is ours, and it matters.

On its ninth anniversary this July 12, the DFA and AFP stood together to honor the ruling that brought justice to our shores. It’s not just history—it’s our present guide in defending what’s rightfully ours. As DFA puts it, it is a “rules-based anchor” in protecting our sovereignty and a beacon for other nations facing similar disputes. General Romeo Brawner, AFP Chief of Staff, echoed this sentiment, calling the ruling not just a legal win but a truth the world acknowledged—that these waters feed our people, protect our coasts, and carry our legacy. “There is no compromise when it comes to our sovereignty,” he said. It is not just a military mission; it is a national one, shared by every Filipino.

But victory on paper means nothing if we do not defend it with policy, with diplomacy, and most crucially—with public vigilance. That is where ordinary Filipinos come in. Because every apathetic shrug chips away at our moral claim. Every repost of misinformation from foreign propaganda machines muddies the waters of truth. And every child who grows up thinking this issue does not concern them is one less voice in our national defense.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año recently thanked the public for supporting government actions, noting that over 58% of Filipinos back the Marcos administration’s stance on the WPS. This is good news, but we can do better. More awareness leads to stronger unity. And genuine unity, especially in a democracy like ours, is not built on silence. It thrives on informed conversations, difficult questions, and principled actions. That is why it matters when local communities hold town hall meetings, when students stage creative protests, when teachers include maritime law in their discussions, and when artists, influencers, and even TikTokers bring this issue into the mainstream.

China’s strategy has been subtle but aggressive: slowly eroding our access, pushing the limits of intimidation, and betting that most Filipinos are either too scared or too distracted to care. But we have seen through history that our kind of resilience has never been about firepower. It is about people standing up even when they are outnumbered. As former Vice President Leni Robredo once said, the consequences of this issue stretch beyond our lifetimes. This is not just about territory. It is about the principle of standing up to a bully. And in this case, the classroom, the barangay hall, the sari-sari store, the group chat—these are also fronts of that quiet, necessary resistance.

There is, too, an ecological dimension. Coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea sustain ecosystems that connect waters as far as the Sulu Sea and beyond. If we lose those reefs, we do not just lose fish. We lose protection from storms, livelihoods for generations, and a living classroom for marine science and environmental education. Marine biologist Hazel Arceo noted that the restricted access to Scarborough Shoal has already shifted fisheries dynamics, reducing harvests and reshaping entire coastal economies. As climate change intensifies, preserving our marine territories becomes not only a matter of pride but of survival.

But let us not get carried away by abstraction. Real lives are at stake. A fisherman from Zambales recently told Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) that his income per fishing trip has dropped by 70% since 2020 because of the harassment by Chinese vessels. Imagine going to work every day knowing you might be blocked, rammed, or harassed. Then imagine people in cities dismissing your plight as a “military issue.” It is not. It is a human issue. It is a teacher issue. It is a youth issue.

That is why House Bill 8583, seeking to declare July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day, matters. Not just as a legislative move, but as a national reminder. As Senator Risa Hontiveros puts it, celebrating the victory chips away at China’s propaganda and reinforces our truths. It turns memory into muscle. And we, as educators, must help build that muscle. Not through fear, but through knowledge. Not by preaching hate, but by cultivating hope. Let us turn classrooms into conversations and our conversations into action.

In the end, the West Philippine Sea is not just a body of water. It is a mirror. It reflects how we see our country, our values, and our future. If we allow it to be taken inch by inch without protest, what does that say about what we truly believe is worth defending? If we stand for it now, loudly and wisely, then our children may never have to ask what was lost, only what was preserved.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.