(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — The government has done everything in its power in affirming the landmark decision siding with the Philippines over its maritime dispute with China, Malacañang said Monday.

“We have done all that we could, given the absence po of an enforcement mechanism under international law,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during his regular briefing.

He said the government took all possible steps to breathe life into the ruling, which marks its fifth anniversary today.

“Kasama na po ‘yung pagtatalumpati ng Presidente sa ating UN General Assembly na sinabi niya na kabahagi na po ng international law ang arbitral decision na ‘yan,” said Roque, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s speech before the United Nations body in September last year.

[Translation: It includes the President’s speech before the UN General Assembly where he said the arbitral decision is already part of international law.]

On July 12, 2016, a five-member arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled unanimously in favor of Manila and invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea — a decision the East Asian giant continues to reject.

READ: Remembering the 2016 Hague ruling: What has happened since then?

While the President has received praise even from his critics for his speech at the international assembly, he also drew flak for saying months later that Manila’s arbitral win is just a piece of paper he can throw in a waste basket.

Duterte has likewise been consistently criticized for his amicable attitude towards China, despite its numerous transgressions in the West Philippine Sea.