WASHINGTON MAY CHANGE. OUR SEAS STILL NEED US.

Maaaring lumakas ang suporta ng Amerika. Pero ang pagprotekta sa Pilipino ay pananagutan pa rin natin.

*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM

Whenever power changes hands in Washington, Filipinos ask whether America will stand beside us more firmly in the West Philippine Sea.

Nauunawaan ko ang pag-asang iyon. Para sa pamilyang umaasa sa pangingisda, bawat insidente sa dagat ay may katumbas na pangamba: may maiuuwi bang kita, may masisirang bangka, may masasaktan bang mahal sa buhay?

American elections may change the political conversation. Pero kailangang maghanapbuhay ng ating mga mangingisda habang hinihintay natin kung paano kikilos ang Washington.

Whatever happens in Washington, protecting that fisherman remains our government’s responsibility.

The Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections. Their incoming majority changes President Donald Trump’s political circumstances; it does not guarantee America’s response to the next maritime confrontation. 

Mahalaga ang resulta, pero hindi ito katiyakan ng proteksiyon. Hindi rin sapat na sabihing mas ligtas na tayo dahil nagbago ang mayorya sa Washington.

Support for Philippine defense already crosses party lines. Republican Senator Bill Hagerty and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine advanced the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act. Key financing provisions are enacted in Section 1270 of Public Law 119-60, authorizing up to $500 million annually in additional military financing grants for fiscal years 2026–2030. 

That authorization predates the election. The result may influence future funding decisions and oversight, but it does not guarantee the full amount.

Sa madaling salita, ang pinahintulutang pondo ay hindi pa pondong nailabas. At ang nailabas na pera ay hindi pa bangkang handang sumaklolo.

Congress approves spending through law; the president commands the armed forces, while Congress holds its own constitutional powers over military affairs. My assessment is that cooperation could sustain assistance, while political conflict could complicate it. Manila must engage both Congress and the White House.

The opportunity is sustained bipartisan support; the danger is mistaking an American electoral victory for a guarantee of protection.

Dapat nating alagaan ang alyansa. Pero hindi maaaring iasa sa resulta ng eleksiyon ng ibang bansa ang buong kapanatagan ng ating mga kababayan.

Successive U.S. administrations have affirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty covers armed attacks on either country’s armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels, including Coast Guard vessels, anywhere in the South China Sea. Responses remain subject to constitutional processes. 

Meanwhile, our people face obstruction and dangerous encounters whose classification and appropriate response may be contested. Habang pinag-uusapan ng mga opisyal ang tamang tawag sa insidente, may tripulanteng nangangailangan na ng tulong.

Our partnerships should improve surveillance, emergency assistance, and coordinated responses while managing escalation. We must also explain our rights precisely: the Philippines has sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone. The 2016 arbitral award did not decide sovereignty over disputed land territory or delimit maritime boundaries. 

Hindi natin inaangkin ang buong dagat. Ipinagtatanggol natin ang mga karapatang dapat igalang, at ang kabuhayang hindi dapat takutin o hadlangan.

ASEAN faces a related test. Centrality gives it an important place in regional discussions. Strategic agency means being able to make choices and carry them out.

Para sa akin, mahalagang malaman kung ano ang nagbabago matapos ang pagpupulong. Mas mabilis bang may sasagot kapag may nanganganib? Mas maaga bang darating ang saklolo?

The ASEAN Charter establishes consultation and consensus as its basic decision-making principle. Different interests can make agreement difficult. Still, I would propose three practical starting points.

Make maritime incident communication dependable. Designate round-the-clock national contacts, standardize reports, and test whether alerts reach someone who can act. Walang gaanong silbi ang numerong tatawagan kung walang sasagot sa oras ng panganib.

Practice civilian rescue together. Coast guards and rescue authorities should rehearse responses to collisions, missing fishermen, and medical emergencies, then review response times and correct failures.

Pilot limited information sharing. Consenting states could exchange verified distress alerts and documented dangerous encounters, with safeguards for sensitive information and a review after one year.

Kailangan ng pahintulot, pondo, at paggalang sa batas at paninindigan ng bawat bansa. Cooperation among willing states must not be presented as an ASEAN-wide commitment.

I propose that the Department of Foreign Affairs, working with the Philippine Coast Guard and relevant agencies, bring these initiatives through appropriate ASEAN channels. Identify responsible agencies, seek agreement on a pilot timetable, and measure communication reliability and rescue performance.

Dapat malinaw kung sino ang kikilos, kailan magsisimula, at paano malalaman kung may naitutulong. Kung buhay ang nakataya, hindi puwedeng malabo ang pananagutan.

At home, the priorities are immediate: fuel, repairs, trained crews, reliable surveillance, and clear agency responsibilities. Fishermen need emergency communication, rescue support, and help when their livelihood is disrupted.

May mga pangangailangang hindi nakikita sa seremonya ng turnover. Sino ang mag-aayos kapag nasira ang makina? May gasolina pa ba para sa susunod na misyon?

These needs should guide assistance and procurement. Equipment must remain useful long after the photographs are taken. A defective purchase or diverted fund leaves someone at sea with less protection.

A country cannot demand credible commitments abroad while tolerating weak implementation at home.

A change in Washington may strengthen our support system. Philippine strategic agency depends on having the judgment, institutions, and means to use that support well. We should strengthen partnerships and sustain diplomacy with China while making our own decisions credible.

Sa huli, bumabalik ako sa mangingisdang aalis bago magbukang-liwayway. Sa pamilyang naghihintay, ang ligtas niyang pag-uwi ang pinakamahalagang balita.

He cannot control who wins in Washington. He deserves a Philippine government prepared to protect him when he leaves shore.

_________________________________________________________

BEST SELLER

Dear Reader,

I invite you to explore my complete collection of published books now available on Amazon. Whether you are seeking in-depth analysis, strategic insights, or engaging narratives, my catalog covers a range of essential topics designed to inform, inspire, and provoke thoughtful discussion.

You can browse all my current titles, read excerpts, and order your copies directly through my official Amazon Author Page: 

Click this Image to View:

Thank you for your continued support and interest in my work. If you enjoy any of the titles, leaving a review on Amazon would be greatly appreciated as it helps bring these ideas to a broader audience.

Warm regards,

Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

*About the author:

Dr. Rodolfo “John” Ortiz Teope is a distinguished Filipino academic, public intellectual, and advocate for civic education and public safety, whose work spans local academies and international security circles. With a career rooted in teaching, research, policy, and public engagement, he bridges theory and practice by making meaningful contributions to academic discourse, civic education, and public policy. Dr. Teope is widely respected for his critical scholarship in education, management, economics, doctrine development, and public safety; his grassroots involvement in government and non-government organizations; his influential media presence promoting democratic values and civic consciousness; and his ethical leadership grounded in Filipino nationalism and public service. As a true public intellectual, he exemplifies how research, advocacy, governance, and education can work together in pursuit of the nation’s moral and civic mission.

VIEWS: 1.92M