- Around 300 DepEd social studies teachers in the Zamboanga Peninsula attended a seminar led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to strengthen awareness and teaching about the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
- Commodore Jay T. Tarriela urged teachers to instill patriotism and maritime sovereignty consciousness among students, emphasizing education as key to defending national interests.
- The seminar also featured sessions from PIA, DOJ, and NSC, covering media literacy, UNCLOS, and countering disinformation on the WPS.
Approximately 300 Department of Education (DepEd) social studies teachers in the Zamboanga Peninsula attended a seminar-workshop conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to enhance educators' awareness and knowledge of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The activity sought to emphasize the important role of teachers as agents in molding enlightened and patriotic future generations that appreciate the nation's defense of its maritime territory.
PCG spokesperson on WPS Commodore Jay T. Tarriela facilitated the discussion of the Philippines' openness initiative within the WPS. He stressed that education is an important factor in keeping the country's drive to exercise its sovereignty intact.
“We need our youth to know what is ours, Ang West Philippine Sea ay laban po nating lahat na mamamayang Filipino. If we are going to help the national government and recognize what our heroes have fought for, it is to teach the future generations to continue the fight and hold the line for our next generation", said Tarriela.
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He also called on teachers to join in this advocacy by molding young minds to become conscious and proud of the Philippines' just claims. "Let us educate our younger ones. This is not your responsibility as a teacher alone, but this is our responsibility as elders grooming our younger generation", he added.
Apart from the PCG, other discussions from major agencies also graced the seminar. Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Head Noemi Edaga discussed media and information literacy, reminding the instructors to guide their students in critically evaluating information, particularly on social media.
Resource speakers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) presented the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while the National Security Council (NSC) provided inputs on countering China's malicious information operations on the WPS.
