Senator Loren Legarda reaffirms commitment to defend West Philippine Sea through diplomacy

Senator Loren Legarda on Saturday reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to defending its rights in the West Philippine Sea through international law, diplomacy and a rules-based international order as the country marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Legarda said the landmark ruling remains significant not only as a legal victory for the Philippines but also as a safeguard for the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk and the country's food security.

"For many, the Arbitral Award is remembered as a landmark legal victory. For our fisherfolk, it is about being able to fish safely, return home to their families, and earn an honest living from the waters that have sustained generations of Filipinos," Legarda said.

She said tensions in the West Philippine Sea continue to affect fishing communities, with many fishermen forced to avoid traditional fishing grounds, shorten their trips or travel farther offshore, increasing costs and reducing their catch.

"The story of the West Philippine Sea does not end at our shores. When our fisherfolk return with fewer catches, families earn less, markets have less to sell, and every Filipino feels the impact through food prices and food security. Every time a Filipino fisherman is compelled to turn back from waters where generations have earned their livelihood, our nation loses more than fish—we lose livelihoods, opportunity, and a measure of our future," she said.

Legarda described the 2016 Arbitral Award as one of the country's most significant legal and diplomatic achievements, saying it affirmed that disputes between nations should be resolved through international law rather than force or coercion. She added that the ruling continues to guide the Philippines in strengthening maritime governance and asserting its rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

She also pointed to the passage of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which she co-authored and co-sponsored, saying the laws incorporate into domestic legislation the principles recognized under UNCLOS and the arbitral ruling.

"The significance of the Arbitral Award lies not only in what it declared in 2016, but in how the Philippines has built upon it through concrete action," Legarda said.

Legarda likewise said the country's position in the West Philippine Sea is supported by both international law and historical evidence.

"While the Arbitral Award clarified the Philippines' maritime rights and entitlements under UNCLOS, these rights are reinforced by a long historical record. The 1734 Murillo Velarde Map, the Treaty of Paris of 1898, the Treaty of Washington of 1900, UNCLOS, and the 2016 Arbitral Award together demonstrate that the Philippines' position is anchored not in rhetoric, but in law and historical fact," she said.

She also called on Filipinos to remain united in protecting the country's maritime rights while continuing to pursue peace and diplomacy.

"Our rights in the West Philippine Sea are neither negotiable nor subject to intimidation. We have a duty to protect what belongs to the Filipino people, consistent with our Constitution and international law. Defending the West Philippine Sea means standing firmly for our lawful rights while remaining steadfast in our commitment to peace, dialogue, and diplomacy. Atin ang West Philippine Sea, at pananagutan nating pangalagaan ito para sa susunod na henerasyon," Legarda said.