MANILA, March 6 -- The chairperson of the House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Wednesday called for sufficient funding in the 2025 national budget to strengthen the country's capacity to protect the WPS.

In a press conference, Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said the government should prioritize spending for maritime security in light of ongoing territorial disputes and security concerns in the region.

"It's about time that the government recalibrates the allocation of funds to include the necessary resources to protect our West Philippine Sea," Gonzales said.

He said Congress had to reallocate PHP1.23 billion in confidential funds from civilian government agencies to security agencies under the 2024 na...