The rights of the Philippines over its maritime zones can soon be codified after the Senate on Monday night ratified the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, principal author and sponsor of the bill, said it is now awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in order to become a law.
Tolentino said the measure sets the archipelagic boundaries, the country’s internal waters, and exclusive economic zones over which the Philippine government exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction.
Under the proposed law, the Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippine Sea are highlighted together with the Benham Rise now known as “Talampas ng Pilipinas.”
Prior to the ratification, Tolentino sponsored the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill 2492 and House Bill 7819 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Bill.
He said the highlights of the disagreeing provisions would perhaps relay to the convergence of articles concerning the internal waters, as well as the archipelagic waters.
“So what the committee did was to just fuse both provisions, the internal waters as well as archipelagic waters provisions, and I think we have now a clearer bill with the forthcoming approval of the Archipelagic Sea Lanes law, this would be as clear as day,” Tolentino said.
Meanwhile, the policy-setting National Maritime Council said the Philippines remains committed to diplomacy and a peaceful resolution to disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
Two PCG vessels — BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño — sustained serious damage Monday in pre-dawn collisions with Chinese vessels that made “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” near Escoda shoal
“In line with the President’s directive, if we go beyond diplomatic or peaceful methods, you can imagine — if you’re referring to more kinetic actions, that wouldn’t be in the best interest of our country, China, or the region,” newly-appointed NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez said in a Palace news conference.
“The Philippines will continue to uphold its rights and jurisdictions in the West Philippine Sea, sustain our routine maritime activities, and protect its territory and maritime zones from environmental degradation and other illegal activities,” he added.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), on the other hand, said it hoped Chinese officials would discuss a possible new agreement in the West Philippine Sea after fresh tensions between the two countries erupted this week.
“We are once again hoping and praying that China will eventually realize that this bullying — unlawful acts that they are doing, of course with the pressure from the international community, would again compel China to join us in the negotiating table so there will be a proper dialogue,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a radio interview.
President Marcos previously slammed China’s air force aggression in Bajo de Masinloc, calling the actions of the People’s Liberation Army – Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft as unjustified, illegal, and reckless.
In a statement on August 11, the President called out China to demonstrate responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies.
“We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace,” the President said.
“We strongly urge China to demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies,” he added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Senate ratifies Philippine Maritime Zones Act.”
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