In a unified effort to safeguard and sustainably manage the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in partnership with various national government agencies, provincial and local government units (LGUs), and Tanggol Kalikasan (TK) Inc., launched the Provincial Caravan for the WPS in Bataan on March 26, 2026. The event was held in Balanga City, Bataan.

With the theme “Bayanihang Adhikain, Bayaning Aksiyon para sa Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas,” the Bataan Provincial Caravan marks the 8th provincial caravan, following previous ones held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (May 2, 2024), Batac, Ilocos Norte (August 19, 2024), Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (August 28, 2024), La Union (September 18, 2024), Zambales (October 21, 2024), Pangasinan (November 6, 2024), and Occidental Mindoro (January 21, 2025). These caravans were designed to further disseminate the WPS action plans and encourage their integration into local development plans and strategies.

DILG Region III Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose expressed a message of support for the WPS Caravan by underlining the importance of collective action in protecting the environment and safeguarding maritime security. She further emphasized that this can be achieved through the harmonization of the national and provincial action plans.

Highlights of the caravan included the presentations of the National Action Plan delivered by Asec. Norlito A. Eneran of the DENR, the Bataan Provincial Action Plan presented by Dir. Belina T. Herman of DILG Bataan, and the Sustainability and Institutionalization Mechanisms presented by Division Chief Lerrie S. Hernandez of DILG Region 3.

Local officials from the provincial, city, and municipal LGUs actively participated, alongside representatives from national agencies such as the DILG, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), and TK.

The initiative continues the momentum kicked off by the inaugural National Summit for the West Philippine Sea held last August 2023. The summit, which brought together around 700 participants, both onsite and online, representing provincial, city, and municipal LGUs, as well as national agencies, and environmental organizations, resulted in the crafting of comprehensive national and provincial action plans aimed at protecting the WPS, ensuring food security, and promoting inclusive economic growth.

The activity was undertaken as part of the WPS Convenors’ Initiative, led by the DILG as Lead Convenor, with the DENR and DA serving as Co-Convenors, and Tanggol Kalikasan as the Secretariat.