02 November 2015 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), conducted an information and advocacy campaign on the West Philippine Sea issue in General Santos City from October 28 to 31. 

DFA Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose traveled to General Santos City to brief the local audience on the developments in the West Philippine Sea maritime dispute and discuss the issue’s significance to the country’s vital interests.  The campaign aims to increase the domestic audience’s level of awareness and understanding of the issue and encourage public support for the Philippine government’s approach on the maritime dispute—the peaceful settlement of disputes and the primacy of the rule of law. 

Assistant Secretary Jose presented the Philippine narrative of the West Philippine Sea issue before an audience of 400 students at the Mindanao State University on October 28. “Our narrative consists of three main points. First, the Philippines has legitimate rights in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea enshrined in international law. However, China is claiming what is ours. For this reason, we should defend what is rightfully ours,” he stated.

Students and faculty members took the opportunity to ask questions and share their views on the West Philippine Sea issue.  They noted China’s non-participation in the judicial proceedings on the maritime dispute and its continued disregard of other claimants’ concerns over its destabilizing actions in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, particularly its reclamation and construction work in the area.  The students also expressed concern that the rising tensions in the South China Sea could lead to armed aggression. 

During the open forum, Assistant Secretary Jose emphasized the importance of resolving the maritime dispute through peaceful means.  “The Philippines envisions the diplomatic and legal tracks as crucial elements in reaching a long term and durable solution to a pressing international issue,” he said.  He thanked the Mindanao State University for hosting the campus tour in General Santos City.

On October 29, Assistant Secretary Jose was the lead speaker in a multi-sectoral forum held at the Phela Grande Hotel.  He discussed the Philippine narrative as well as the latest developments of the arbitration case before an audience composed of local government representatives, members of the media, members of the uniformed services, and business sector representatives.  During the open forum, he was joined by resource persons from other government agencies such as Major General Rafael Valencia (Armed Forces of the Philippines), Lt. Rolando Lorenzana (Philippine Coast Guard, General Santos Station Commander), and PIA Regional Director Olivia Sudaria.

The Assistant Secretary engaged members of the local media through a lengthy press conference on October 28 at the Phela Grande Hotel, followed by a series of phone patch and ambush interviews all throughout his stay in the city.

Assistant Secretary Jose also took the opportunity to visit the DFA’s Regional Consular Office (DFA RCO) in General Santos City, where he was warmly received by DFA RCO head Ebrahim Zailon and the rest of the DFA RCO staff. 

The DFA and PIA are scheduled to conduct more forums on the West Philippine Sea issue in other regions throughout the country in the coming weeks.  Since the information and advocacy campaign was launched in 2015, the DFA and PIA have conducted forums, campus tours and press conferences in Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City, Subic, Olongapo, Laoag City, Vigan city, Puerto Princesa City, Tuguegarao City, Dumaguete City, Iloilo City, Davao City, and the Bicol Region.  The next multi-sectoral advocacy campaign is set to be held in key areas in the Calabarzon region.  END