EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 
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JUL 11 
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Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
DECLAIUNG JULY 12 OI EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL WORKING 
HOLIDAY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO COMMEMMORATE THE 
HISTORIC DECISION OE THE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION 
(PCA) IN FAVOR OF PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY 
OVER THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The South China Sea has been one of the most strategic waterways in the 
world with decades-long history of maritime dispute among seven (7) claimant 
countries, including the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China.
One of the persistent issues over this disputed territory is China’s 
controversial "historical" claim, outlined by a 9-dash line affecting almost 90 percent 
of the contested waters. The said line runs as far as 2,000 kilometers from the 
Chinese mainland to within a few hundred kilometers from territories of other 
claimant countries, such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The People’s 
Republic of China maintains their stand that it owns any land or features contained 
within that line1.
China’s sabre-rattling in the disputed maritime territory aggravated the 
situation with reported harassments by Chinese patrol boats in 2011 and China’s 
take-over of Scarborough Shoal (which forms part of the Philippines’ Exclusive 
Economic Zone) in 20122. 
Amid the heightening conflict, the Philippines has
1 Zhen L. (12 July 2016) What’ s China' s ‘ nine-dash line ’ and why has it created so much tension in the South China Sea?. Retrieved 
from: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy defence/article/l988596/whats-chinas-nine-dash-line-and-why-has-it-created-so
2 Business Mirror (12 July 2016) Timeline: The China-PHL sea dispute, https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/07/12/timeline-the-china-phl- 
sea-dispute/


resorted to peaceful and legal means, including political and diplomatic remedies, 
with the end view of reaching a just settlement of our maritime dispute with China. 
However, China continues its aggressiveness by building a military garrison in the 
Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, positioning a missile frigate in one of the 
contested maritime territories and informing the Philippine Government that 
Chinese coast guard vessels will remain permanently in these islands3.
This prompted the Philippine Government under then President Benigno S. 
Aquino III to file an arbitration case with the United Nations-backed Permanent 
Court of Arbitration (PCA) to assert its sovereign rights and seek relief and ruling to 
settle the maritime dispute^. The basis for this arbitration is the 1982 United Nations 
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Both the Philippines and China are 
parties to the UNCLOS, the Philippines having ratified it on May 8, 1984, and China 
on June 7, 1996. The UNCLOS was adopted as a “constitution for the oceans,” in 
order to “settle all issues relating to the law of the sea”, and has been ratified by 168 
parties. UNCLOS seeks to solve the wide range of issues and includes a mechanism 
for peaceful settlement of disputes. The Philippines’ case in the PCA sought a ruling 
to declare that the rights and entitlements in the South China Sea must be based on 
the UNCLOS and not on any claim to the so-called “historic” right. It also aimed to 
challenge the lawfulness of China’s actions in the South China Sea, and resolve if 
China has encroached on the sovereignty of the Philippines by engaging in the large- 
scale construction of artificial islands and land reclamation at seven reefs in the 
Spratly Islandss.
After the three-year process of tackling and hearing the case, the PCA finally 
promulgated on 12 July 2016 its decision with key rulings in favor of the Philippines. 
The tribunal held that the so-called "9-dash line" is invalid and has no legal basis to 
claim historic rights to resources. Further, the PCA ruled that China's large-scale 
land reclamation has "caused severe harm to the coral reef environment and violated 
its obligation to preserve and protect fragile ecosystems,” adding with emphatic 3 * 5
3 Rappler Philippines (12 July 2016) TIMELINE: The Philippines-China maritime dispute. Retrieved from: 
https://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/139392-timeline-west-philippine-sea-dispute
* ibid
5 Pennanent Court of Arbitration (12 July 2016) Award Document- PCA Case N° 2013-19


clarity, that China had definitely violated the Philippines' sovereign rights in its 
exclusive economic zone6.
In order to commemorate the momentous victory by the Philippines in the 
PCA, it is fitting and compelling that the 12 of July of each year be a Special Working 
Holiday dedicated to honoring this landmark decision favoring the Philippines, in 
the hope of instilling national pride among our people and motivating our 
government to constantly pursue and promote policies and programs consistent with 
the PCA ruling.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
LEILA M. DE LIMA
'Ibid


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
■/(0fl!cr of t;ic 
. " l  iv
SENATE
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
DECLAIMING JULY 12 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL WORKING 
HOLIDAY IN THE ENTIRl^ COUNTRY TO COMMEMMORATE THE 
HISTORIC DECISION OF TFIE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION 
(PCA) IN FAVOR OF PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY 
OVER THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section i. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “West Philippine Sea 
Victory Day.”
Sec. 2. West Philippine Sea Victory Day. -  July 12 of every year shall be 
declared a special working holiday to commemorate the day when the historic decision 
made by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, The Netherlands was 
issued.
Sec. 3. Lead Agency.- To ensure the meaningful observance of the holiday as 
herein declared, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall plan, design and 
implement activities for the “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” and ensure that the 
significance of this historic decision shall continue to inspire and instill a sense of pride 
in every Filipino, as well as to constantly remind the government to continually uphold 
our rights in the West Philippine Sea and emphasize that the policies that the 
government will pursue is consistent with the said ruling.


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Sec. 4. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
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the Philippines.
Approved,