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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo: WPS education bill to help unify national stance on Philippine territories

Erwin Tulfo: WPS education bill to help unify national stance on Philippine territories

Published Feb 8, 2026 03:56 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Erwin Tulfo is referring to Senate Bill No. 1625 or the proposed "West Philippine Sea (WPS) Education Act," which he filed, and which primarily seeks to institutionalize a specialized curriculum in both basic and higher education focused on the country's maritime territories.


Newly-installed Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chairman Erwin Tulfo on Sunday, February 8 pushed the Senate to expedite the passage into law of the bill which seeks to institutionalize the teaching on the country’s maritime territories, including the West Philippine Sea (WPS), in order to help unify the country’s stance on Philippine territory.

Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)

Tulfo is referring to Senate Bill No. 1625 or the proposed “West Philippine Sea (WPS) Education Act,” which he filed, and which primarily seeks to institutionalize a specialized curriculum in both basic and higher education focused on the country’s maritime territories.

“Despite being a critical point of Philippine sovereignty, many Filipinos are seemingly in the dark about the West Philippine Sea. We must integrate this into our education system,” Tulfo emphasized.

“We have to act now. I urge my colleagues to conduct a hearing on this as soon as possible. Time is of the essence in ensuring that Filipinos are well-informed on the situation in the WPS,” the Senator added.

The measure seeks age-appropriate learning materials to be integrated into the syllabi in basic and higher education. These materials should include, among others,  internationally recognized facts, Supreme Court decisions and relevant laws on the WPS.

The Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), National Security Council (NSC), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), will be mandated and tasked to develop the materials and training, together with other government agencies.

Once enacted, DepEd will be mandated to carry out appropriate training for teachers and educators assigned to teach the WPS curriculum. 

According to Tulfo, embedding the country’s stance into the education system will be bolstered by rigorous awareness campaigns.

“The media will play a huge role as we roll out a nationwide information campaign on our maritime rights, the protection of marine ecosystems, and accurate public discourse,” Tulfo said.

Likewise, the measure encourages State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to increase research and studies on maritime security, governance, and the welfare of coastal communities.

“We can only fight for our rights if we know what those rights are. If we delay this, we remain susceptible to disinformation and propaganda that could reshape the mindset of the next generation regarding the West Philippine Sea,” Tulfo said.

Related Tags

West Philippine Sea Erwin Tulfo WPS Education Act
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