MANILA — The 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea is not merely a legal document but a safeguard for the livelihood, food supply, and energy future of Filipinos, according to officials and maritime experts.
As the country marks the 10th anniversary of the decision on July 12, Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe said the award confirmed the Philippines’ exclusive rights to explore, use, conserve, and manage resources within its exclusive economic zone.
During a conference in Pasay City on Friday, Berberabe said the ruling has practical consequences for ordinary citizens because it protects fisheries and potential energy reserves that belong to the country.
“What the award supplied was certainty,”
she said, stressing that the Philippines has exclusive rights over resources found in its EEZ.
The arbitration case stemmed from China’s submission of its nine-dash line claim to the United Nations in 2009 and was later reinforced by tensions at Scarborough Shoal in 2012, where Filipino fishermen lost access to areas they had traditionally used.
University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute Director Michael Atrigenio explained that events in the West Philippine Sea affect all Filipinos, even those living far from coastal communities, because disruptions in fish production can influence food prices nationwide.
Department of Justice senior state counsel Fretti Ganchoon added that the ruling settled questions about overlapping maritime claims and affirmed that the marine wealth, including possible oil and gas deposits within the continental shelf, belongs to the Philippines.
Beyond resource rights, Berberabe said the award helps maintain stability in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes. She noted that uncertainty at sea can increase shipping costs, insurance premiums, and delays in the movement of goods.
Over the past decade, the Philippines has integrated the arbitral award into domestic laws and institutions, strengthened its maritime coordination mechanisms, and continued filing diplomatic protests over incidents in the West Philippine Sea.
Berberabe said enduring protection is reflected in the daily work of the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
According to her, these efforts ensure that the landmark ruling remains an active tool for protecting the country’s maritime rights, food security, and national interests for future generations.
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