SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS __)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. [7063

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Kalayaan Island is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines which
has a population of around 300 to 400 people. It has one barangay, Pag-Asa and a 1.3 km
airstrip that is used both by the military and civilians.

These Islands have been the subject of claims of different countries including Vietnam,
Palau, Malaysia and China.

The Philippines said the areas covered by Vietnam's unilateral partial submission are
“disputed because they overlap with those of the Philippines." The Philippines also contested
the submission by the Republic of Palau establishing the outer limits of its continental shelf that
lie beyond 200 nautical miles. It said the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea
of Palau is measured overlaps with the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines.

As of the present, the different countries, particularly China have built strong fortifications
and military structures in the Islands surrounding the Kalayaan Islands.

‘On several instances, Chinese gunboats even confiscated fishing nets of the Filipino
fishermen and the increasing Chinese intrusions and their illegal occupation of Mischief
(Panganiban) Reef are already alarming to the country's security.

‘And in order to strengthen our claim and protect our sovereignty, we need to build more
structures and fortify our defense of these Islands, particularly the construction of a safe harbor
as well as the repair of the Rancudo airfield on Pag-Asa Island. Aside from solidifying our claim,
the construction of structures in the Kalayaan Islands would also improve the tourism industry of
the Islands.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is eamestly requested

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.

JED



‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
Second Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. "7063

AN ACT
APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF ONE BILLION PESOS (P1,000,000,000) FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT, FORTIFICATION AND BUILDING OF STRUCTURES IN THE KALAYAAN
GROUP OF ISLANDS

Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. The amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000) is hereby appropriated to be
exclusively used for the fortification and improvement of the current structures present in the
Kalayaan Group of Islands.

Further, the same amount shall also be used to build new structures in the Islands like
harbors, berthing facilities and other structures necessary to promote tourism in the Islands and
increase the defensive capabilities of the Philippines to strengthen the Philippines’ claim over it.

SEC. 2. It is hereby required that an annual report regarding the use of the funds appropriated
by this Act be submitted to both houses of Congress.

SEC. 3. Separability Clause — If any portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the same
shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions not affected thereby.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (\5) days following its publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,