AKBAYAN Representative Rep. Perci Cendaña today commended Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s order to conduct an inventory of all sister city agreements between the Philippines and China.
Cendaña described the move as “good news” on the eve of the anniversary of the 2016 arbitral tribunal victory that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
The inventory, prompted by the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Bloc’s call to review and potentially rescind certain agreements, is seen as a crucial step in assessing the implications of these agreements for Philippine sovereignty in the disputed waters.
“This is a positive first step,” Representative Cendaña stated. “However, we must continue to push for a stronger national stance on the West Philippine Sea.”
The representative echoed the WPS Bloc’s call for further actions, including the declaration of July 12th as National WPS Victory Day and the integration of WPS history and geography into the national education curriculum.
These measures, according to Representative Cendaña, are vital in raising public awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of the country’s rights and claims in the WPS. The Akbayan party-list pledged its continued support for these initiatives.
