In anticipation of a major legal milestone, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) has requested the Department of Education (DepEd) to actively participate in a nationwide, simultaneous flag-raising ceremony.
According to an official letter obtained from the National Security Council dated July 1, 2026, the ceremony is scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2026.
The event is designed to kick off a "whole-of-society commemoration" leading up to the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award on July 12, 2026.
Instilling Sovereignty in the Youth
In the letter addressed to DepEd Secretary Jose Edgardo M. Angara, National Security Adviser Eduardo Sl. Oban Jr. requested a formal directive enjoining all regional and field offices, attached agencies, bureaus, and operating units to participate.
The task force emphasized that involving the education sector is crucial for the youth's civic development.
"The participation of the education sector will help foster greater awareness and appreciation among learners and educators of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and lawful maritime entitlements, while encouraging active citizenship among the youth," the letter reads.
A Month of Commemoration
The simultaneous flag-raising seeks to maximize the standard first-Monday-of-the-month ceremony by specifically highlighting the significance of the 2016 Arbitral Award and reaffirming the Philippine government's commitment to upholding the rule of law.
To support the event, the NTF-WPS has attached an official statement to be disseminated during the ceremony and plans to distribute an official commemorative audio-visual presentation (AVP) to schools and DepEd offices.
The 2016 Arbitral Award, issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, overwhelmingly ruled in favor of the Philippines, concluding that China's expansive maritime claims had no basis under international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
