President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday called on all Filipinos to help defend the country's maritime rights and national interests, pledging that the Philippines would continue asserting its claims peacefully and in accordance with international law.

"We will defend our rights in a peaceful manner, in accordance with the law and our principles," the President said during National Heroes' Day rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. "But defending our territory is a responsibility shared by the entire nation."

Mr. Marcos urged Filipinos to learn the country's history and maritime rights and to take part in protecting national interests, stressing that education is central to strengthening public support for the Philippines' position in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which a large share of global trade passes.

"We begin by educating the youth on where our maritime rights come from and why they matter," he said at the livestreamed event.

The President cited the 2016 arbitral award, issued by a tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which affirmed the Philippines' maritime entitlements and rejected China's expansive historic claims in the South China Sea. China does not recognize the ruling and has continued to press its claims in the waters, which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea for areas within its exclusive economic zone.

His remarks come amid persistent tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed features in the South China Sea, including encounters between Philippine and Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal and Chinese military activity in the area. Despite the disputes, the two countries have continued diplomatic engagement, including talks on a proposed South China Sea code of conduct — a framework long under negotiation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — and possible cooperation on oil and gas development.

Mr. Marcos also called for stronger efforts against disinformation, saying the government should use every available platform to promote truth and responsible public discourse. He said Filipino fisherfolk deserve support, noting that their continued presence in Philippine waters helps reinforce the country's connection to its maritime claims, which are anchored in part on traditional fishing activity.

Linking national security to effective governance, the President said Filipinos should demand transparency, accountability and better public service from government institutions.

"The strength of our resolve as a nation begins with the depth of our knowledge and the strength of our unity as one people," he said.

Mr. Marcos used the occasion to honor overseas Filipino workers, firefighters, police officers, soldiers, emergency responders, teachers, healthcare workers and parents for their contributions to the country. He also singled out the Philippine Coast Guard, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Filipino fisherfolk for their role in protecting the country's rights, livelihoods and interests in the West Philippine Sea. His administration has taken a more assertive public stance on the disputes compared with his predecessor, while also deepening security cooperation with treaty ally the United States and other partners.

"The Philippines is worth fighting for," Mr. Marcos said. "Every Filipino is worth serving. Our sovereignty is worth defending."

— Erika Mae P. Sinaking