World · Philippines Bureau
Youth Must Help Defend Philippines' Maritime Resources, Defense Chief Says
Defense Secretary Teodoro has called on younger Filipinos to take an active role in protecting the nation's ocean resources amid rising regional competition. Speaking at a Saturday forum in Manila, he emphasized that maritime security extends beyond the West Philippine Sea to encompass all Philippine waters.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — As global populations grow and neighboring countries increasingly assert territorial claims in disputed waters, the Philippines must mobilize its youth to safeguard marine resources across all its seas, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday.
Addressing participants at a forum in the capital, Teodoro stressed that resource scarcity is driving expanded maritime claims in the region, creating urgency for the country to strengthen its defense posture. He highlighted the need for broader stakeholder engagement, particularly among younger Filipinos who will inherit responsibility for protecting the nation's ocean wealth.
"As populations expand globally and resources decline, we see countries pushing their boundaries farther," Teodoro noted. The defense chief underscored that maritime protection requires vigilance not only in the strategically significant West Philippine Sea but across the entire Philippine archipelago and its surrounding waters.
The remarks reflect growing concerns in Manila about regional maritime tensions and the need for a comprehensive national strategy to defend the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and territorial waters. Officials have increasingly looked to youth engagement as a key element in building long-term maritime awareness and stewardship.