By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang has directed all government agencies to promote the Philippines as a “maritime and archipelagic nation” to raise and deepen public understanding of the country’s maritime and archipelagic issues and concerns.
“It is imperative to strengthen public awareness, national consciousness, and intergenerational appreciation of the Philippine national territory and maritime zones,” Memorandum Circular (MC) 87, inked by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on July 11, read.
MC 87 designates the National Maritime Council (NMC), through the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns (POMC), to take the lead in the formulation and implementation of year-round programs and activities to raise public awareness of the Philippines as a maritime and archipelagic nation.
The POMC is also instructed to organize activities in the annual celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo), which is held every September by virtue of Proclamation 316 issued in 2017.
MC 87 orders the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to implement appropriate communication strategies and information dissemination measures to inform, educate, and engage the general public in supporting the programs and activities.
All national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), are directed to support and promote the programs, campaigns, and initiatives that raise awareness of the Philippines being a maritime and archipelagic nation.
They are also mandated to support and cooperate in the annual observance of MANA Mo.
All local government units and the private sector are encouraged to provide support.
Collaboration towards protecting PH maritime interests
“There is a need to harmonize, integrate, and synchronize efforts among government agencies and instrumentalities, and to foster inter-agency cooperation and collaboration in advancing maritime and archipelagic awareness, towards sustainable development, security, and protection of the country’s maritime domain and heritage,” the order read.
The funding requirements needed for the initial implementation of MC 87 will be charged against current and available appropriations of concerned agencies, subject to pertinent budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules and regulations.
MC 87, which was made public on Wednesday, July 16, takes effect immediately.
The 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.
In November 2024, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which defines the country’s internal waters, archipelagic waters, 12 nautical miles territorial sea, 24 nautical miles contiguous zone from the baselines, and the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone and continental shelf where the Philippines can exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction.
He also signed RA 12065 or the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, designating the sea lanes and air routes suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over its archipelagic water and the adjacent territorial sea, in an effort to prevent arbitrary international passage in the Philippine archipelago. (PNA)
