In a significant move to reinforce the Philippines’ territorial identity, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed that every geographical feature within the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) be given official Filipino names.
The directive underscores the government’s commitment to asserting its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. By replacing generic or foreign labels with indigenous names, the administration aims to solidify the cultural and administrative connection between the Philippines and these remote maritime features.
The Kalayaan Island Group, located within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), consists of various islands, reefs, shoals, and cays. For decades, many of these have been referred to by international or colonial monikers. President Marcos’ latest order changes the narrative, ensuring that maps, official documents, and international communications reflect a distinctly Filipino heritage.
“These features are ours, and they should bear names that reflect our language and our history,” a Palace official noted regarding the directive. The move is seen as a “soft power” approach to maritime disputes—using nomenclature to document long-standing presence and administrative control.
The task of finalizing these names falls to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). The agency is expected to coordinate with historians, local government units in Palawan, and maritime experts to ensure the names chosen are culturally relevant and geographically accurate.
Once finalized, these names will be registered in the national gazette and used in all Philippine maritime charts. The government also intends to submit these official names to international hydrographic and geographic bodies, ensuring that the global community recognizes the Philippines’ terminology for these features.
This administrative push comes amid ongoing tensions in the region. By standardizing Filipino names, the Marcos administration is building a more cohesive legal and symbolic front. It serves as a reminder to the world that for the residents of Palawan and the soldiers stationed in the KIG, these are not just coordinates on a map—they are part of the Philippine home.
As the NAMRIA begins its mapping project, the message from Malacañang is clear: every rock and reef in the Kalayaan group is an integral part of the nation’s story, and it’s time they were called by their rightful Filipino names.