The Movement for Maritime Philippines (MMP) has been advocating for a definition of the national maritime interest for some time now. Shouldn’t these serve as the core of the national maritime goal? However, I believe the country must project a higher purpose: a persistent goal that defines our maritime interest. There is nothing in the country’s policy which expressly articulate our maritime interest – an interest which the ordinary Filipino can easily relate to. In the euphoria that followed the PCA award, the need to communicate our maritime interest which reflect the very essence of our being an archipelagic country becomes urgent.

Source: Manila Times July 16, 2016 12:22 UTC