Waypoints, University of the Philippines Law Center - Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (UPLC-IMLOS), and the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) presents a hybrid forum titled, Kasiguruhan sa Karagatan: Strengthening the Implementation of the South China Sea Arbitral Award. The preliminary list of speakers include:

Asec. Ma. Angela Ponce, Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office
Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Former Chief-Of-Staff at the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Dr. Jay Batongbacal, UP Law Professor and Director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Dr. Rosalie Hall, Professor at the University of the Philippines -Visayas

Messages from:

Hon. Senator Loren Legarda, Senate Pro-Tempore and Committee Chairperson for Culture and the Arts
Hon. Representative Maria Rachel J. Arenas, Committee Chairperson, Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
Hon. Representative Francisco B. Benitez, Principal Author of the Blue Economy Bill

On 12 July 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal issued the Award in favor of the Republic of the Philippines ruling against the unlawful acts of the People's Republic of China. Both the Philippines and China are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which also known as the constitution of the ocean. The Arbitral Award can be seen as a symbol that all states, whether small or large, are equal in the eyes of the law. Indeed, international law is the great equalizer between states.

The forum will be an avenue to reflect and continue the dialogue on the importance of the Arbitral Ruling in the region and in strengthening the rules-based order. More importantly, the forum aims to explore ways forward for the Philippines.

The seminar is scheduled on Thursday, 27 July 2023, from 10:00AM to 12:00NN (Manila time). This is a hybrid event, participants can join via Zoom or may attend onsite at the UP Law Center, University of the Philippines - Diliman Quezon City.

This form will be accepting entries until Thursday, 27 July 2023, 6:00 AM Philippine Standard Time (GMT+8). For inquiries, kindly send an email to: projectwaypoints@amadorresearchservices.com