06/07/2026
READIIđź‘€
Standing united with the rest of the nation, the island municipality of San Antonio, Northern Samar, officially declared its unwavering support for the 10th anniversary of the historic July 12, 2016, South China Sea Arbitral Award.
The landmark ruling, issued a decade ago resoundingly affirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, while declaring China’s expansive "nine-dash line" claim as having no basis under international law.
For an island municipality like San Antonio, which relies heavily on its rich marine resources, the arbitral award is not just a matter of high-level geopolitics—it is a matter of daily survival, food security, and local identity.
Local officials and community leaders firmly believe that the rule of law must prevail in protecting the country's maritime domain. For them, honoring the 2016 Arbitral Award is about securing the future of the local fisherfolk and ensuring that the generations to come can freely enjoy the wealth of its municipal waters.
San Antonio’s expression of support aligns with a broader national effort to institutionalize the ruling into the grassroots consciousness of coastal municipalities. By fostering local awareness, the municipality aims to empower its fishing communities to remain resilient and informed guardians of the sea.
As the Philippines celebrates ten years of this legal victory, the voice of San Antonio, Northern Samar, echoes a clear and resounding message: "What is ours is ours." The municipality remains firmly committed to a rules-based international order, proving that even the smallest island communities play a monumental role in defending the nation's sovereign rights.
