Telling the story of the West Philippine Sea — its life, its people, and why every Filipino has a stake in keeping it safe and whole.
Explore the Knowledge BaseMore than water and islands, the West Philippine Sea is a living landscape: the source of daily meals, the stage of communities who have fished its waters for generations, and the reason many coastal towns endure. That’s why protecting it is not only a legal act — it is an act of care for people, culture, and the future we’ll hand on.
We wrote this page to spark curiosity, teach the facts, and give students like us the words to speak up — respectfully, clearly, and with heart.
Millions depend on fisheries and marine resources for daily sustenance and income.
Coral gardens and seagrass beds form the backbone of coastal resilience and biodiversity.
Legal decisions, diplomacy, and vigilance keep seas peaceful and rights respected.
The seabed holds energy and mineral potential that could help power national development.
The West Philippine Sea sits well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Many features and fishing grounds are a few hundred kilometers from Palawan and Luzon — squarely within waters the Philippines has legal rights to manage and protect.
Islands such as Pag-asa (the largest occupied feature) have civilians, local governance, and facilities — tangible acts of administration that complement legal claims and show continuous ties to the state.
Patrols, maritime domain awareness systems, and community reporting help deter illegal activity and protect fishers. Security is mixed with stewardship: protecting people and ecosystems hand-in-hand.
International rulings under UNCLOS provided legal support for the Philippines’ maritime rights. These decisions strengthen diplomatic and legal arguments for rightful access to fisheries and seabed resources.
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