Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Executive Order No. 111, saying the formal naming of 131 features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) strengthens Philippine sovereignty and governance in the West Philippine Sea.
The order was issued late Tuesday in line with existing maritime laws and policies and follows a recommendation by the National Maritime Council under Executive Order No. 57.
“Having witnessed their firsthand experience amid the ongoing territorial dispute, this initiative further solidifies KIG’s identity as an integral part of Philippine territory and bolsters our collective efforts to develop the island group,” said Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The order also aligns with Republic Act No. 12064, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which states that the maritime zones on the western side of the Philippine archipelago, including the Luzon Sea, the territorial seas of Bajo de Masinloc and the maritime features of the KIG, shall collectively be called the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority has been directed to produce and publish updated charts and maps reflecting the official names.
All national government agencies, instrumentalities, government-owned or -controlled corporations and government financial institutions were also ordered to use the official names in all communications, messages and documents.
Educational institutions were likewise instructed to adopt the standard names, with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and state universities and colleges directed to use them in research, textbooks and instructional materials.
