West Philippine Sea now seen more evidently on Google Maps

Google has updated its Google Maps and Google Earth services to make the West Philippine Sea label more evident on the map.

The update has been well received in the Philippines, where users noticed that the label is now more visible when zooming in and out, placed west of Luzon. While the “South China Sea” label remains, now appearing farther northwest.

The West Philippine Sea refers to portions of the South China Sea that fall within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined under Administrative Order No. 29 issued in 2012 by then-President Benigno Aquino III.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino hailed this development as another sign of growing global recognition for the West Philippine Sea.

“This represents a victory for all Filipinos. It is also an affirmation of the correctness of the Philippines’ current policy to assert its sovereign rights in line with international law and multilateralism,” said Tolentino, who is the principal author of the recently passed Philippine Maritime Zones Law (Republic Act 12064).

Under this landmark legislation, not only was the West Philippine Sea enshrined in law, but it also officially renamed the Benham Rise to Talampas ng Pilipinas, **a resource-rich undersea plateau located off the eastern coast of Luzon.

Tolentino also noted that international support continues to build. “Equally significant are the statements of support that the Philippines has been receiving from several nations, including global leaders like the United States and European Union,” he emphasized in a press release.

The senator hopes that Google Maps would soon update the label for the Talampas ng Pilipinas, which currently still appears as Benham Rise. He revealed that the map for the Talampas was officially received by the International Seabed Authority on March 27, 2025, paving the way for broader recognition.