1.

What is the significance of the Arbitration Ruling

The significance of the Arbitration Ruling is definitely a legal victory for the Philippines over China
as the judges agreed unanimously on about all the questions submitted by the philippines,
including a declaration from the tribunal that China is obliged to comply with UNCLOS and that
the award is legally binding.

It was concluded that China’s claims were contrary to UNCLOS and exceeded the geographic
limits imposed by it since it failed to prevent fishermen from Chinese flagged vessels from
harvesting (a) endangered species on a significant scale and (b) in such a manner as to destroy
the coral reef ecosystem. Furthermore, the tribunal held that the ecosystem of the coral reef was
severely and permanently harmed by China's reclamation of land and construction of artificial
islands, facilities, and buildings in the Spratly Islands. With these, we can say that we did not only
win the case, but also exposed China of its indecent, unjust and illegal ways of propagating their
sovereign and economic gains.

2. What do u suggest that the government do.

The simplest suggestion I could give is education. Nothing starts big or results in success without
proper education, may that be practical or theoretical. In our case, there is already an arbitration
ruling that is recognized and justified. With the Arbitration ruling rendering a legal victory to the
Philippines over China, the award is legal binding on China. Accordingly, this must be known to every
filipino people not only by heart of patriotism and nationality, but with the facts that came along
with the decision.

However, despite the ruling, there is still the aftermath where conflict still exists. A dispute like this
will not be resolved only by education. We have to be realist as education with no expedient
measures—probably a more intelligent and aggressive move to counter China’s acts would be fultile.
It is a good to start to educate the filipino people. It is good that we start with our people. Hence, if
the government could only make use of their machinery to educate not only the Filipinos, but also
others, just like the presentation fo Justice Carpio, but more on a simple and more layman approach
then it would be easeir for us. Moreover, China rendering the arbitration ruling as illegal and void
and therefore without any binding effect per se is an explicit rejection of the decision and an
explicit disrespect to the treating binding them internationally. This means that even if we won the
case, we cannot just rely on it alone. I hope the government, especially those who are seated will
be more “Filipino” in committing to their public office. I also hope that the government will fulfill
their duties that might be outside of this topic but may still affect it (i.e. economic and even
personal ties), because personal is political; everything is political. —Mangudadatu, Rohanie M.