A bill declaring July 12 as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day has been filed by Macabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.
House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, Representative Raoul Manuel of Kabataan party-list, and House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro of ACT Teachers filed House Bill 8583 seeking to designate July 12 of every year as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day to honor the historic 2016 decision that invalidated China's expansive claims over much of the South China Sea.
The West Philippine Sea is within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf of the Philippines.
But according to the Philippine military and coast guard, Chinese warships have swarmed areas of the WPS, and hounded and challenged Philippine ships that are on patrol and on resupply missions.
Even today, China continues to reject the Hague verdict.
Senator Risa Hontiveros also previously filed a resolution urging the government to bring the West Philippine Sea issue to the UN General Assembly, said July 12 is commemorating Philippine’s 2016 victory every year can help weaken China’s spurious claims over our own territories," said
"China has been repeating its lies and propaganda, and so, we in the Philippines should not stop emphasizing the truth," Hontiveros said.
"Let's start by letting our citizens know about our rights to the West Philippines Sea," she added.
