A group of Filipino lawmakers have filed legislation requiring all schools to teach students about the West Philippine Sea dispute, as tensions with China over the contested waters continue to escalate.

House Bill 1625, filed by representatives from the Akbayan party-list, Liberal Party, and Mamamayang Liberal party-list, seeks to make West Philippine Sea education mandatory from elementary through college levels in both public and private schools.

The proposed “West Philippine Sea Mandatory Education Act” will deepen youth awareness of Philippine sovereignty over the waters, which Manila considers part of its exclusive economic zone, according to the bill.

The curriculum would cover the area’s history, the 2016 international arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines, the country’s economic importance including fishing and natural resources, and the role of diplomatic action in defending territorial rights.

The mounting friction between Philippines and China over the South China Sea is an on-and-off affair.

In recent reports, Chinese coast guard ships and a Chinese navy helicopter harassed a group of Philippine fisheries vessels conducting a scientific survey in a hotly disputed area.

Chinese Coast Guard vessels began to employ dangerous tactics to harass Philippine resupply missions in 2023, leading to heightened clashes that have included water cannon attacks and vessel collisions.

The lawmakers argue the educational measure would strengthen national pride and develop critical thinking among young Filipinos on issues of territorial sovereignty and peace.

They said the next generation must understand their rights as citizens of the nation with clear maritime claims.

The West Philippine Sea is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Philippine sovereignty in the natural resources-rich area is now under threat from China, which continues to ignore the 2016 international arbitral ruling that recognized Philippine ownership of WPS.

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