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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to define Maritime Zones under Republic Act No. 
9522, entitled “An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 3046, as 
Amended by Republic Act No. 5446, To Define the Archipelagic Baselines of the 
Philippines, and For Other Purposes.” The measure also seeks to define Maritime 
Zones consistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the 
Sea (UNCLOS). 
The specific definitions made under this bill are the following: 
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Archipelagic Baselines
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Internal Waters
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Archipelagic Waters
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Territorial Sea
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Contiguous Zone
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Exclusive Economic Zone
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Continental Shelf
Hence, the passage of this measure is sought.   
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
March 6, 2023
5:22 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
DECLARING AND DEFINING THE MARITIME ZONES UNDER THE 
JURISDICTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Maritime 
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Zones Act.”  
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SEC. 2. Maritime Zones. – The maritime zones of the Philippines comprise the 
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internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive 
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economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.  All territories of the Philippines shall 
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generate their respective maritime zones in accordance with international law.  
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SEC. 3. Archipelagic Baselines. – Archipelagic baselines, as used in this Act, 
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refer to the baselines as defined under Republic Act No. 9522, entitled “An Act 
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to Amend Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 3046, as Amended by Republic 
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Act No. 5446, To Define the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines, and For 
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Other Purposes.”   
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SEC. 4. 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 forming part
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of archipelagic waters under Section 5 of this Act and delimited in
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accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
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Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and
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b. Waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea of
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territories outside of the archipelagic baselines.
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The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its internal waters and the airspace 
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over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS and 
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other existing laws and treaties.  
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SEC. 5. Archipelagic Waters. – The archipelagic waters of the Philippines refer 
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to the waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines except as 
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provided for under Section 4 of this Act. 
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Within the archipelagic waters, closing lines for the delimitation of internal 
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waters shall be drawn pursuant to Article 50 of the UNCLOS and other existing 
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laws and treaties.  
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The Philippines shall exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction over its archipelagic 
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waters and the airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance 
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with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.  
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SEC. 6. Territorial Sea. – The territorial sea of the Philippines refers to the belt 
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of sea measured twelve (12) nautical miles from the baselines or from the low-
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water line, as the case may be.  
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The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its territorial sea and the airspace over 
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it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS and other 
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existing laws and treaties.  
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SEC. 7. Contiguous Zone. – The contiguous zone of the Philippines refers to the 
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waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-
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four (24) nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the 
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territorial sea is measured.  
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this zone in accordance with the 
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UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.   
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SEC. 8. Exclusive Economic Zone. – The exclusive economic zone of the 
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Philippines refers to the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up 
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to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines from which 
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the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.  
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this area including the right to 
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explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or nonorganic resources in 
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accordance with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.  
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SEC. 9. Continental Shelf. – The continental shelf of the Philippines comprises 
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the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial 
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sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of 
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the continental margin, or to a distance of two hundred (200) nautical miles from 
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the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where 
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the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to 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 the UNCLOS.   
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this area including the right to 
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explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or nonorganic resources in 
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accordance with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.  
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SEC. 10. Adherence to Existing Laws. – Other rights of the Philippines not 
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stipulated in this Act shall be exercised in accordance with international law and 
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the laws and regulations of the Philippines.   
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SEC. 11. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof not affected 
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thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.   
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SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws inconsistent with or contrary to the 
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provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.   
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SEC. 13. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette in a newspaper of general circulation.  
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Approved, 
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