DFA Chief Manalo Pushes for Standard Names for Philippine-Claimed Islands in West Philippine Sea

Outgoing Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo has signed a resolution recommending the adoption of 'standard names' for the islands and features in the West Philippine Sea.

'Signed National Maritime Council (NMC) Resolution No. 002 (2025) recommending the adoption of the standard set of Philippine names for 131 features of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea,' said Manalo in one of his last moves as DFA Chief before stepping down on June 30.

Manalo, who will return as Manila's envoy to the United Nations in New York, will be replaced by Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Ma. Theresa Lazaro, the country's top negotiator to the Association of South East Asian Nations and China.

The KIG which the Philippines considers a municipality of Palawan province, is internationally known as Spratlys.

With six coastal countries claiming all or parts of the South China Sea and attaching their own names for claimed areas, the nomenclature has been part of the disputes and has sparked confusion for the rest of the world. International names have been adopted for most contested features.

In an administrative order by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2012, the Philippines officially named areas on the western side of the archipelago as the West Philippine Sea.

President Ferdinand Marcos in 2024 issued an executive order creating the National Maritime Council to formulate policies and strategies towards a unified, coordinated, and effective framework on maritime security and domain awareness.

Chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, other members of the NMC are the Secretaries of the Departments of National Defense, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Environment and the National Security Adviser.

According to the source: GMA Network.