MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the official use of Philippine names for 131 maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), a move aimed at strengthening the country’s sovereignty and governance in the West Philippine Sea.
Through Executive Order 111, signed on March 26 and released Tuesday evening, the government adopts a standardized set of names recommended by the National Maritime Council (NMC). The NMC emphasized that uniform naming is key to effective administration, governance, and the assertion of sovereign rights.
The order mandates the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) to update and publish official maps and charts reflecting the newly designated names. All government agencies, including state-owned companies and financial institutions, are required to apply these names in official communications and documents. Educational institutions under DepEd, CHED, and TESDA are also instructed to integrate the names into teaching materials, research, and publications.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, welcomed the move, saying it reinforces the Philippines’ legal claim to the West Philippine Sea. “This Executive Order demonstrates our firm commitment to uphold our territory in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. Tulfo added that the initiative also promotes development in the KIG and benefits local residents.
The KIG falls under Philippine jurisdiction per Presidential Decree No. 1596, issued in 1978, which created the Municipality of Kalayaan under Palawan province. The area lies within the country’s exclusive economic zone as defined by the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Republic Act No. 12064. Pag-asa Island, the municipality’s administrative hub, is the largest island in the group.
This action comes amid ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where China claims most of the waters—a claim rejected by a 2016 UNCLOS arbitral ruling. The Philippines continues to assert its rights over the area, including exploration and management of its marine resources.
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