Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. called on young Filipinos to take an active role in protecting the country's maritime sovereignty during the launch of the Bantay Dagat Youth Ambassadors – West Philippine Sea Edition Caravan on August 28, 2026, in San Juan City.
The caravan launch was held during the "Safeguarding Our Seas: National Duty and Community Leadership in the West Philippine Sea" multi-stakeholder forum, organized by the Rotary Club of Chinatown Circle in partnership with the Philippine Navy.
Philippines Is 80% Water, Teodoro Reminds the Nation
Secretary Teodoro anchored his address on a foundational geographic reality: the Philippines is demographically and geographically unique in that it is composed of 20 percent land and 80 percent water, with a maritime domain of 2.4 million square kilometers — far exceeding its land territory.
"Because all the resources, whether in the West Philippine Sea, in the internal waters, in the Pacific Ocean side of the Philippines, are sources of potential sustenance, energy for future generations," Teodoro said, according to a DND readout of his remarks.
He stressed that the country's maritime interests extend beyond the West Philippine Sea and include the Philippine Rise and other resource-rich waters that will be critical for sustaining future generations as global populations grow and natural resources become increasingly scarce.
Sovereignty Rooted in International Law
The Defense Chief reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award as the legal framework underpinning the country's sovereign rights and maritime entitlements.
Teodoro also cited ongoing efforts to strengthen the country's defense posture through military modernization, strategic infrastructure development, and deepened partnerships with like-minded nations.
"We need to push back and we need to fight for a proper interpretation of international law," the Secretary said, framing the defense alliances not as aggressive posturing but as a collective effort to protect shared maritime supply chains from what he described as expansionism.
New Defense Agreements Enter into Force
Secretary Teodoro disclosed updates on several Status of Visiting Forces Agreements (SOVFA) that form part of the Philippines' expanded defense diplomacy.
According to Teodoro, the SOVFAs with Canada and New Zealand have already entered into force. The SOVFA with France is currently before the Philippine Senate for concurrence, while the Philippines has begun its first round of formal negotiations for a proposed SOVFA with the United Kingdom.
"You can see that these alliances are for shared interests," Teodoro said. "That is to secure the maritime domain for the supply chains of like-minded countries who feel threatened by expansionism in their own borders."
Youth Urged to Become Advocates, Not Bystanders
Addressing the youth ambassadors directly, Secretary Teodoro framed maritime awareness not merely as a civic duty but as a generational imperative — a responsibility to prevent foreign actors from claiming resources that rightfully belong to Filipinos.
"As populations expand in the world, as resources grow more scarce, as needs grow more scarce, there is a temptation to expand and that we cannot allow for your sake in the future," he told the youth delegates.
"You cannot stop the growth of human beings, the growth of society... But what you can stop is somebody else taking what should be yours to support yourself and giving it to somebody else," he added.
He concluded his remarks by urging the youth to remain firm in their convictions: "Be convinced that what you're doing is important," Teodoro said, calling on young Filipinos to advance a strong, resilient, and proudly pro-Filipino nation.
Senior Officials Join the Forum
The forum drew a broad coalition of government and civil society figures. Joining Secretary Teodoro were National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Oban Jr., Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Executive Director Benjamin Acorda Jr., National Security Council Deputy Director Nestor Herico, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tristan Tarriela, and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.
Rotary Club officers, civil society partners, and youth advocates were also present at the August 28 forum, according to the DND.
By the Numbers
- 2.4 million square kilometers — the Philippines' total maritime domain
- 80% — the proportion of the Philippine territory that is water
- 20% — the proportion that is land
- 2 — SOVFAs already in force (Canada and New Zealand)
- 1 — SOVFA pending Senate concurrence (France)
- 1 — SOVFA in first-round formal negotiations (United Kingdom)
- 2016 — year of the Arbitral Award that the Philippines cites as legal basis for its maritime claims
Why This Matters
The launch of the Bantay Dagat Youth Ambassadors caravan signals a deliberate government effort to institutionalize maritime awareness at the grassroots and youth level, embedding sovereignty advocacy beyond traditional defense and diplomatic channels. Secretary Teodoro's disclosure of multiple active and pending defense agreements with Canada, New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom reflects a significant expansion of the Philippines' multilateral security architecture in the Indo-Pacific. With the country's 2.4-million-square-kilometer maritime domain containing vital fisheries, energy resources, and strategic sea lanes, the mobilization of youth advocates is positioned as a long-term investment in national resilience and resource protection.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Department of National Defense / DND Philippines