Marcos orders naming of 131 features in KIGA tugboat of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy sails in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal near the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in August 2025. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered the giving of local names to 131 features of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The directive is contained in Executive Order 111 signed by Marcos on March 26. 57, wherein the National Maritime Council recommended the adoption of the standard set of Philippine names for the 131 features of the KIG in Kalayaan town in Palawan. Meanwhile, ninety Chinese naval and coast guard vessels were monitored in the vicinity of four key features in the WPS last month.

Source: Philippine Star March 31, 2026 16:51 UTC