The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) welcomes the decision of the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate lessons on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the Araling Panlipunan curriculum for Grades 4, 6, and 10 beginning School Year 2026. This initiative marks a significant step in ensuring that the Filipino youth are well-informed about our maritime heritage and sovereign rights.
For SCAP and the broader youth and student movement, this development is a milestone in the fight for education that not only safeguards the welfare of students but also strengthens national identity and sovereignty. Embedding lessons on the hard-won 2016 Arbitral Ruling, maritime rights, and the campaign against the disinformation and imperialist agenda of China will help build a generation of Filipinos who understand, value, and are ready to defend what is rightfully ours.
SCAP Secretary-General and ATIN ITO Youth Co-Convenor Matthew Silverio emphasized that the initiative goes beyond classroom learning. “Ang edukasyon tungkol sa West Philippine Sea ay hindi lang aralin sa klase, ito ay aral ng pambansang dangal at kabayanihan ng ating mga manginisda at frontliners. Nananawagan kami sa Kongreso na pagtibayin ito sa batas, ipasa na ang hinihain ng WPS Bloc, upang masiguro na hindi mabubura ng kahit sinong lider o banyaga at imperyalistang impluwensya ang ating kamalayan at paninindigan para sa ating karagatan,” Silverio said.
He also stressed the need to institutionalize the measure through legislation. “We welcome these steps made by our Education Department, pero we emphasize, na kailangan pa ring maisabatas ang West Philippine Sea Education Bill upang matiyak na institutionalized ang pagtuturo nito sa bawat henerasyon ng kabataan.,” he added.
The West Philippine Sea Education Bill was filed last June 2025 by the WPS Bloc led by Akbayan Partylist Representative Chel Diokno and his fellow Akbayan Representatives Rep. Perci Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula, together with Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Representative Leila de Lima, Dinagat Islands Representative Kaka Bag-ao, and other legislators.
SCAP commits to continue working with educators, policymakers, and civil society groups to ensure that WPS education remains a tool for empowerment, truth, and national pride.
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