Quezon city: To help Filipino children understand the West Philippine Sea and its rich marine biodiversity, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday launched a three-part children's e-book titled 'The Wonderful West Philippine Sea.' 'The West Philippine Sea is food, home, story, and future. Its coral gardens breathe life into our coasts. Its currents carry the livelihoods of millions. Yet reefs are fading, the fish are fewer, and plastic drips where turtles used to feed. If we do not act now, we will have nothing left to pass on,' DENR Assistant Secretary Rochelle Gamboa said during the launch held in observance of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DENR said the e-books, which are part of the agency's continuing efforts to make marine science, environmental stewardship, and environmental education more accessible to children, introduce young Filipinos to the country's rich marine life and the need to care for it. 'We hope these books will help our children appreciate the beauty of our marine ecosystems, understand the importance of conserving them, and realize that they too have a role to play in protecting our national heritage,' Gamboa said.
The first e-book, 'The Wonderful West Philippine Sea with Pawi the Sea Turtle (Pawikan),' follows Pawi, a curious green sea turtle, as it explores mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and coastal communities. Written for children aged 6 to 9, the illustrated e-book introduces readers to whale sharks, giant clams, reef fishes, and other marine life found in the West Philippine Sea. Along the way, it also introduces the people who help protect these ecosystems, including scientists, sustainable fishers, community volunteers, and coast guards. The story explains in child-friendly language how pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss affect marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Gamboa said the second title, scheduled for August, follows Maria and her grandfather as they share stories about the West Philippine Sea and its place in the country's natural heritage, while the final title is scheduled for release in September during the observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna noted that the initiative is rooted in a simple belief that children are more likely to protect what they learn to value, cultivating in them environmental awareness and stewardship.
"Through 'The Wonderful West Philippine Sea,' we hope to inspire children to appreciate this sea that has long sustained Filipino families, recognize it as an important part of our natural heritage, and understand our shared responsibility to protect its rich marine biodiversity for present and future generations," he said. The e-book also includes coloring pages, species identification activities, and a family pledge encouraging children to reduce single-use plastics, dispose of waste properly, conserve water, and join community clean-up drives.
'By meeting Pawi, children learn that protecting the West Philippine Sea also means protecting our food security, livelihoods, biodiversity, and shared heritage. We also want them to understand, in simple terms, why the 2016 Arbitral Award matters for our nation and our seas,' he added. The landmark ruling, issued in 2016 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), affirmed the Philippines' maritime entitlements within its exclusive economic zone.
Through the e-books, the DENR seeks to introduce those ideas in ways that are accessible to young readers by linking them to the marine environment they help protect. The e-book will be available for free download through the DENR website, while printed copies will be distributed to coastal schools, barangay halls, and partner organizations. Educators and community leaders interested in obtaining copies or organizing storytelling sessions and partnerships may contact the DENR Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service.
'Every story has the power to open a child's mind to new ideas and new possibilities. We hope that this story will help young readers see the West Philippine Sea as a living treasure that belongs to all of us and is worth protecting,' Gamboa said.
