Solon files bill to declare July 12 as ‘West PHL Sea Victory Day’

A party-list representative has filed a bill seeking to declare July 12 as a special working holiday in commemoration of the favorable ruling received by the country from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the South China Sea dispute.

House Bill No. 1947 authored by Magdalo party-list Representative Manuel Cabochan III proposed to commemorate every July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day.

“This is a well-intentioned measure highlighting one of the notable victories of our country. We need to preserve the significance of the PCA ruling for this showed to world that the Philippines, despite being seen as a small nation, can stand up for its rights as an independent and sovereign state,” Cabochan said.

HB 1947 also mandates the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to include in their respective curriculum the background of the West Philippine Sea as well as the events leading up to the PCA ruling on July 12, 2016.

“The West Philippine Sea dispute will most likely remain as a central issue for our country in the coming years. The future generations of Filipinos should be educated on this matter and its importance to our country’s national security, and food and energy resources,” Cabochan said.

The Magdalo solon said that the bill also aims to urge the Philippine government to recognize the PCA ruling.

“This bill also hopes to encourage the administration to make use of the PCA ruling to strengthen our own claims. War is not our only option to fight for our rights in our territory, and the PCA ruling proves just that. Unfounded threats of war should not be an excuse to forget our duty to protect our independence and territorial integrity of our nation,” Cabochan added.

The bill was filed by then Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano in the 17th Congress.  While it was passed at the committee level, it did not reach the plenary for debates.  —LDF, GMA News