The resolution authored by Sangguniang Kabataan President, Kristine Mercado was made due to the ongoing territorial dispute between China and the Philippines in the West Philippines Sea.ย
โWe, the people envisioned to establish a government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations , promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love , equality,vand peace,โ the resolution stated.
According to the resolution, the 20th City Council is โre-expressing that the people of the City of Davao renounces war as an instrument of national policyโ and requests the policymakers of the country to โadhere to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations in accordance with the nationโs principles and state policies.โย
Dabawenyos have called on the national government to continue exhausting available formal and informal mechanisms that did not involve armed confrontation in enforcing the rights of the country.
โAny armed confrontation raises the probability of conflict escalation leading to war and the people of Davao hopes and prays for peace to reign in our country and the entire region,โ the resolution read.
The lawmakers here believed the territorial claims of the Peopleโs Republic of China over the West Philippine Sea, and the encroachment over Exclusive Economic Zones, require a determined stand for the country to call for the observance of the rules of the United Nations Convention of the law of the sea.
โAssertion for the observance and respect of our nationโs โsovereign rights, however, need not be through armed confrontation, and should not lead to war,โ it said.
The resolution was approved under suspended rules during the 15th regular session of the 20th City Council.