LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized 10 provincial governments as champions of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during the Bayanihan Para sa Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas 2026 summit held here on Thursday.
The provinces honored were Palawan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Batanes, Batangas, and Pangasinan. Each has established a West Philippine Sea Council through an ordinance, resolution, or executive order.
The plaque of recognition described the award as a tribute to each province’s invaluable cooperation, steadfast support, and outstanding contribution to the protection, promotion, and defense of the West Philippine Sea.
DILG Assistant Secretary Lilian de Leon announced that the 10 provinces would receive cold storage facilities from the United Nations through the DILG to support coastal communities and the fisheries sector.
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Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, who led the summit, said that while Filipinos may be politically divided, “we should be united in this issue” concerning the West Philippine Sea.
Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III urged fellow governors to help safeguard the country’s seas, saying these waters are not only part of their respective territories but also a legacy that sustains the livelihood of thousands of Filipino fishermen.
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Vice Governor Mark Lambino said that because Pangasinan is a coastal province, the security of its seas directly affects fishermen, coastal communities, and the province’s food supply.
He stressed the need for responsible and effective governance, stronger protection of the country’s waters, and sustained support for the families whose livelihoods depend on the sea.
The summit commemorated the 10th anniversary of the historic 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, a landmark ruling that reaffirmed the Philippines’ legitimate rights and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). /cb
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