(Manila, 2nd) Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos called on citizens to “rediscover and reclaim” the nation's maritime identity, emphasizing that protecting the seas is not only a matter of national sovereignty but also concerns the survival and legacy of future generations.
In his address for the “Month of Ocean and Archipelagic Nation Consciousness” on Monday, he noted that the Philippines’ fate has always been closely tied to the sea. The ocean has been both the cradle of prosperity and the testing ground for historical conflicts.
“Each century’s history rises and falls with the tides, carrying the seeds of prosperity as well as the storms of conflict,” Marcos said.
He stressed that effective ocean governance is key to national development, allowing optimal use of resources, ensuring community safety, and defending national sovereignty.
“By mastering the seas, we can strengthen our economy, safeguard community security, and uphold the dignity of our sovereignty,” he said.
Marcos called on all agencies to combine science and law, for communities to regard ocean protection as part of their identity, and for leaders to govern with vision beyond the present.
These remarks come as tensions rise in the West Philippine Sea, with Chinese vessels recently frequenting the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Manila has lodged multiple diplomatic protests, and some lawmakers have urged Marcos to bring up the 2016 arbitration ruling again at the United Nations assembly later this month to defend the Philippines’ rights.
“Each century’s history rises and falls with the tides, carrying the seeds of prosperity as well as the storms of conflict,” Marcos said.
He stressed that effective ocean governance is key to national development, allowing optimal use of resources, ensuring community safety, and defending national sovereignty.
“By mastering the seas, we can strengthen our economy, safeguard community security, and uphold the dignity of our sovereignty,” he said.
Marcos called on all agencies to combine science and law, for communities to regard ocean protection as part of their identity, and for leaders to govern with vision beyond the present.
These remarks come as tensions rise in the West Philippine Sea, with Chinese vessels recently frequenting the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Manila has lodged multiple diplomatic protests, and some lawmakers have urged Marcos to bring up the 2016 arbitration ruling again at the United Nations assembly later this month to defend the Philippines’ rights.