Kalinga joins call to defend West Philippine Sea as Nambaran, Lacnog unveil awareness murals

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Murals unveiled in Barangays Nambaran and Lacnog are calling on iKalingas, particularly the youth, to help defend the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea despite living far from the coast.

The murals aim to raise awareness that the country’s maritime rights concern all Filipinos, including communities in landlocked provinces such as Kalinga.

Beverly Ashley B. Dawaton, one of the artists behind the Nambaran mural, said the responsibility to protect the country’s waters is similar to the struggle of iKalingas to defend their ancestral lands.

“What does the sea have to do with us? The answer is everything. Because this isn’t just about money or resources. This is about who we are. As iKalingas, we know exactly what it means to stand for our own lands. It is time to bring the brave, unbreakable voice of our mountains to defend our seas,” Dawaton said in an interview with PIA-Kalinga.

The initiative was led by the 1405th Community Defense Center (CDC) under the 14th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) of the Philippine Army Reserve Command, in partnership with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-Cordillera and other government agencies.

During the mural unveiling, Lt. Col. Dexter P. Dantog, director of the 1405th CDC, said the campaign seeks to make Filipinos, especially the youth, understand that the West Philippine Sea is part of the country’s maritime territory and that its rights must be defended.

“Gusto nating imulat sa ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na ang ating mga kabataan na ang West Philippine Sea is atin. Itanim natin sa isip nila na ang West Philippine Sea is atin talaga at kailangan nating ipaglaban,” Dantog said.

The West Philippine Sea is also an important source of livelihood and food for the country. Data from the Department of Agriculture showed that provinces and cities along its coast had 453,246 registered fisherfolk, while the area accounted for an average of 16.68 percent of the country’s marine capture fisheries production from 2006 to 2025.

Kalinga State University student regent Prince Israel A. Lacsa also expressed his commitment to help spread awareness among the youth and promote the protection of the country’s maritime rights.

“I commit myself to being an informed, responsible, and courageous Filipino youth. I will use my voice to spread awareness and stand for truth and uphold our nation’s dignity,” Lacsa said.

Through the murals in Nambaran and Lacnog, the organizers hope to encourage more communities to take part in raising awareness and defending the country’s maritime rights.