Territorial integrity is of paramount importance in Philippine policy. Echoing this key objective in the Department’s strategic plan, the Carlos P. Romulo School of Diplomacy organized a two-part course on Archipelagic Consciousness and the West Philippine Sea and Oceans Law and Policy. The course series aimed at furthering the Department’s awareness drive and capacity-building efforts for the benefit of personnel and staff of the DFA and other concerned agencies. Maritime experts from the Department of Foreign Affairs, other agencies and the academe served as resource persons on maritime laws on the national and international levels, maritime security, the marine environment and maritime delimitation negotiation.

The course on Archipelagic Consciousness and the West Philippine Sea was held from 20 to 24 October 2014 and gave an overview of the Philippines’ National Marine Policy as patterned in congruence with contemporary international maritime law and policy. The Course on Oceans Law and Policy was subsequently conducted from 10 November to 1 December 2014 to deepen the week-long overview with a better understanding of the oceans, including its vulnerabilities, strategic significance, its role as a conduit of economic growth, as well as the rights of the states in utilizing the world’s oceans, and the duty to protect and preserve it for present and future generations.

The course series was attended by participants from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Service Institute, National Security Council, PNP Maritime Group, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Presidential Management Staff, Philippine Navy, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, and Maritime Industry Authority.