Manila: The provincial government of La Union has taken a significant step in the protection of its marine resources by establishing the West Philippine Sea Council and approving the West Philippine Sea Code of 2026. This initiative aims to institutionalize policies and programs related to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
According to Philippines News Agency, Board Member Eulogio Clarence Martin De Guzman III announced that the council was created on March 31, 2025, following the enactment of Provincial Ordinance 477-2025. The ordinance outlines the creation of the West Philippine Sea Council, detailing its composition, duties, and functions. De Guzman emphasized that the ordinance not only establishes the council but also institutionalizes various functions and activities to protect the environment, particularly the West Philippine Sea.
Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega has endorsed the declaration of July 12 as the annual West Philippine Sea Day in La Union, commemorating the arbitration victory. The day will feature activities aimed at preserving and protecting the Philippine Sea for the benefit of local fisherfolk and residents. De Guzman highlighted the council's focus on environmental, rather than solely political or territorial, objectives.
Environmental Planner Annalyn Rosario-Valdez from the La Union Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office mentioned that a technical working group, comprising national government agencies and coastal local government units (LGUs), has convened to prepare a three-year action plan. This plan will incorporate concerns from coastal LGUs to address their specific needs and support their development.
The council, chaired by Governor Ortega, includes mayors of the component city and municipalities, provincial directors of relevant national agencies, Liga ng mga Barangay presidents, and representatives from civil society organizations and the academe. Under the ordinance, the council is responsible for formulating a Provincial WPS Action Plan every three years through stakeholder consultations, promoting public awareness on the ecological and strategic importance of the WPS, coordinating province-wide implementation of WPS initiatives, and advocating policies for inclusive growth, environmental resilience, and sustainable resource use.
Governor Ortega expressed the province's commitment to supporting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. La Union, as a frontline province in the West Philippine Sea, aims to be proactive yet peaceful in its approach to regional issues. The La Union WPS Action Plan seeks to guide the province's 12 coastal LGUs in implementing sustainable fisheries programs, enhancing coastal governance, and protecting the marine environment.
The draft plan includes updating local fishery ordinances, preventing illegal quarrying, and providing relocation sites for informal settlers in coastal areas. It also aims to empower fisherfolk associations and reorganize the Provincial La Union Baywatch Task Force. Governor Ortega and other La Union officials attended the "Bayanihan para sa Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas 2026" Summit in Lingayen, Pangasinan, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award in the South China Sea Arbitration.
