CSPC, PIA Bicol host West Philippine Sea Symposium

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Bicol, in partnership with Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), successfully held the West Philippine Sea Symposium on September 4, 2025, at the CSPC Auditorium. 

The event gathered students from the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) program, the CAS Student Council, and select students enrolled in Readings in Philippine History, fostering awareness and discourse on one of the nation’s most pressing issues.

The program opened with messages from CSPC President Dr. Amado A. Oliva Jr. and PIA Director-General Usec. Katherine Chloe S. De Castro, followed by the acknowledgment of participants by Dr. Ana-Liza S. Macatangay, Deputy Regional Head of PIA Bicol.

Key discussions included “Media Information Literacy: Navigating the Digital Age with Awareness and Critical Thinking” by Dr. Macatangay and “The Philippines’ Sovereign Rights and Maritime Security in the West Philippine Sea” by Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard. An engaging open forum allowed students to raise questions and insights on maritime security and media literacy.

The symposium concluded with the synthesis and closing remarks by Mr. Ramil A. Marianito, Regional Head of PIA Bicol. Through this initiative, CSPC students deepened their understanding of the West Philippine Sea issue—its geopolitical significance, its implications for national security, and the crucial role of informed citizens in shaping public discourse.