Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla has called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to play a more assertive role in upholding the country’s maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), emphasizing its key position in supporting national sovereignty.
At the recent DENR symposium with senior Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, Lotilla underscored the agency’s capacity to reinforce the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive nine-dash line claim by leveraging legal, environmental, and scientific tools. He said the DENR must mobilize its resources to provide evidence-based narratives to counter disinformation and uphold the country’s rights before the international community.
“This landmark legal victory must not be taken for granted,” Lotilla said. “The work is far from over.”
Lotilla outlined policy directions for the DENR, including enhanced inter-agency coordination, the publication of marine environmental reports, and grassroots campaigns to raise public awareness. He also framed the agency as a vital frontline actor in defending national interests “from ridge to reef, and across our rightful seas.”
The DENR’s involvement in the WPS issue reflects a broader strategy to align environmental protection with geopolitical and legal advocacy, reinforcing the Philippines’ position amid ongoing tensions in the disputed waters.
