The House of Representatives adopted during plenary session Wednesday, July 29 a resolution commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Philippines' landmark 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) victory on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

House Resolution (HR) No. 1013, principally authored by Malabon City lone district Rep. Antolin Oreta III and endorsed by the Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea through Committee Report (CR) No. 434, honors what it describes as a significant legal and diplomatic victory for the Philippines.

The committee recommended its approval without amendment. In plenary, the House members adopted it via simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes).

The resolution marks the 10th anniversary of the July 12, 2016 ruling by the PCA constituted under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).

It issued a unanimous and final award--ergo, an arbitral award--in the case brought by the Republic of the Philippines against the People’s Republic of China.

The resolution recalls that the arbitral ruling affirmed that UNCLOS comprehensively allocates rights over maritime areas and found no legal basis for China's claim of historic rights within the so-called “nine-dash line".

Recognizing the significance of the milestone, HR No. 1013 declares that “The tenth anniversary of the promulgation of the Arbitral Award on 12 July 2026 presents a historic opportunity to honor the Filipino people and institutions that contributed to this legal victory and to reaffirm the country’s commitment to a rules-based international order.”

The award also upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), particularly with respect to the exploration and utilization of marine resources, and underscored the obligation of states to protect and preserve the marine environment.

China has never recognized the Philippines' arbitral victory.

The adoption of HR No. 1013 came just two days after President Marcos delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives, where he made strong statements on the WPS issue.

Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin and House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Miro Quimbo praised the Chief Executive for his stance.

Garin said the President consistently underscored that no part of Philippine territory should ever be surrendered.

“Ang sinasabi niya at paulit niyang tinutumbok ay wala tayong isusurender sa bansang atin. Ni isang kusing ng ating lupa ay hindi dapat mapunta sa iba. Nanalo na tayo, dapat ipaglaban natin ang ating panalo,” she said.

(What he is saying and repeatedly emphasizing is that we must not surrender our country. Not a single centavo’s worth of our land should go to others. We have already won, we must fight for our victory.)

Garin said the Chief Executive also showed that defending Philippine sovereignty does not prevent the Philippines from maintaining constructive ties with China and strengthening cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Quimbo, for his part, noted that his declaration on protecting Philippine territory drew one of the loudest applause during the SONA.

“Malinaw naman ’yung tindig ng Pangulo na, in fact, sa nakita ko kahapon, ’yun ang pinakamalakas na palakpak dahil ang ating bayan ay uhaw para sa isang leader na nakikipaglaban para sa kapakanan ng ating mamamayan, lalong-lalo na kung ang ating ipinaglalaban ay something that is historically, legally ours,” he said.

(It is clear what the President’s stance is; in fact, from what I saw yesterday, that was the loudest applause because our nation longs for a leader who fights for the welfare of our people, especially when what we are defending is something that is historically and legally ours.)

The Marikina solon said Filipinos have every reason to stand behind the President’s position because the territory being defended was fought for by previous generations.

“Kahit anumang mangyari, talagang magkaubusan ng lahat, hindi natin ibibigay ang teritoryo na ipinaglaban ng ating mga ninuno,” Quimbo said.

(Whatever happens, even if everything is exhausted, we will not give up the territory fought for by our ancestors.)