Marcos names 131 WPS features to boost PH claim

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the adoption of Philippine names for 131 features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) under Executive Order No. 111, strengthening governance and asserting sovereignty in Palawan and the West Philippine Sea.

The order, issued March 26, follows a recommendation from the National Maritime Council to standardize names for key maritime features in Kalayaan.

It is imperative to adopt a standard set of Philippine names to ensure efficient administration and exercise sovereignty, the council said.

The directive also tasks National Mapping and Resource Information Authority to update official maps, while all government agencies, including schools and state universities, must use the approved names in documents, research, and educational or instructional materials.

Under the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, waters on the country’s western side, including Bajo de Masinloc and the KIG, are collectively referred to as the West Philippine Sea.IMT