The Department of Foreign Affairs has backed a legislative measure seeking to institutionalize the use of the term “West Philippine Sea” to pertain to the air space, seabed, and subsoil on the western side of the Philippine archipelago.
DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza stressed that while the “West Philippine Sea” was already defined in 2012 United Nations Administrative Order No. 29, DFA still recognizes what the legislation can do in terms of clarity and institution building.
“We look forward to supporting the process should we be invited to do so,” Daza said.
This was after Senator Francis Tolentino filed Senate Bill 405 to “institutionalize” the West Philippine Sea by formalizing the designation of the said nomenclature as part of the existing laws of the land.