SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
'Hl 
S. No. 
~1::;' 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article I of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that: 
"The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands 
and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines 
has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, flUVial and aerial 
domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, 
and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the 
islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part 
of the internal waters of the Philippines. " 
Pursuant to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which the 
Philippines is a signatory and a party, our country and other coastal States has been recognized to 
have the right to establish various maritime zones and jurisdictions over which sovereignty and 
appurtenant sovereign rights can be exercised. Given the premise, this bill seeks to have a 
general declaration and definition ofthe maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Philippinet 
This proposed legislation has the aim of preserving and protecting the country's maritime rights, 
as it mentions in general tenns the rights that the Philippines may exercise over its maritime 
zones. 
Establishing the extent of the limits of the maritime zone of the Philippine archipelago 
practically averts any unnecessary dispute with vessels of foreign states entering the Philippine 
maritime territory without our pennission. 
Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
ONIO 'SONNY' F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. _-,,-:~-,9=-' _ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
'ilL -1 
TO DEFINE THE MARITIME ZONES OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Maritime Zones 
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Act." 
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SEC. 2. Maritime Zones.- The maritime zones of the Philippines are comprised of the 
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Internal, Waters, Archipelagic Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic 
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Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf. All territories of the Philippines generate their respective 
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maritime zones in accordance with international law. 
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SEC. 3. Internal Waters.- The Internal Waters of the Philippines refer to the: 
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(a) waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not fonning part of Archipelagic 
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Waters under Section 4 hereof and delimited in accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United 
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Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and/or 
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(b) waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea of territories outside of the 
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archipelagic baselines. 
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The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its Internal Waters and the airspace over it as 
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well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the 
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Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other existing laws and treaties. 
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SEC. 4. Archipelagic Waters.- The Archipelagic Waters of the Philippines refer to the 
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waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines except as provided for under Section 3 
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hereof. 
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Within the archipelagic waters, closing lines for the delimitation of internal water shall be 
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drawn pursuant to Article 50 ofUNCLOS and other existing laws treaties. 
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SEC. 5. Territorial Sea.- The Territorial Sea of the Philippines shall be the belt of sea 
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measured twelve (12) nautical miles from the baselines or from the low-water line, as the case 
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maybe. 
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The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its territorial sea and the airspace over it, as 
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well as its seabed and subsoil, in accordance with UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties. 
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SEC. 6. Contiguous Zone.- The Contiguous Zone of the Philippines refers to the waters 
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beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-four (24) nautical miles 
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from the baselines or from the low-water line, as the case may be. 
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this zone in accordance with UNCLOS 
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and other existing laws and treaties. 
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SEC. 7. Exclusive Economic Zone.- The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the 
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Philippines refers to the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of 
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two-hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines or from the low-water line, as the case may 
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be. 
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this area including the right to explore 
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and exploit living and non-living, organic or non-organic resources in accordance with UNCLOS 
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and other existing laws and treaties. 
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SEC. 8. Continental Shelf.- The Continental Shelf of the Philippines comprises the 
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seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the 
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natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a 
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• 
distance of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the 
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territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to 
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that distance. 
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Continental shelves extending beyond two-hundred (200) nautical miles from the 
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baselines shall be delineated in accordance with Article 76 of UN CLOS. 
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this area including the right to explore 
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and exploit living and non-living, organic or non-organic resources in accordance with UNCLOS 
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and other existing laws and treaties. 
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SEC. 9. Adherence to Existing Laws.- Other rights of the Philippines not referred to in 
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this Act shall be exercised in accordance with international law and the laws and regulations of 
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the Philippines. 
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SEC. 10. Overlapping Maritime Zones.- If the maritime zones of the Philippines overlap 
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with the maritime zones claimed by other countries, the Philippines may delimit these zones and 
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endeavor to resolve the overlaps in accordance with means recognized under international law. 
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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 12. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 13. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved, 
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