NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ] 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ] 
Second Reguiar Session 
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of 11)? ti etirp
23 AUG-7 P6 -19
RHCEIVED BV;
SENATE
S.B. No. 2394
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MARITIME ZONES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As an archipelago, the Philippines has definite maritime interests for sitting at 
the crossroads of international shipping and for being surrounded by large vast of 
oceans and seas. Thus, when the Philippines signed and ratified the United Convention 
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 and 1984, respectively, it was intended as a 
step towards strengthening our legal and institutional framework for maritime 
governance and our claim for maritime zone allocations as an archipelagic state.
However, it does not stop with the country's adoption of the UNCLOS as there 
is a need to harmonize existing Philippine laws with the UNCLOS. Aside from 
establishing an archipelagic baselines law under Republic Act No. 9522 in 2009, 
Congress needs to pass a comprehensive maritime zones law that clearly establishes 
the legal regimes and geographical extent of these maritime zones in accordance with 
the UNCLOS.
Accordingly, the proposed measure seeks not only to update existing Philippine 
maritime laws but more importantly, delineates and emphasizes our maritime zones 
and boundaries. By declaring our maritime zone boundaries, the Philippines will be 
fortifying the geographical extent of the Philippine maritime domain, and 
consequently, guide our citizens, armed forces and civilian law enforcers on the rights 
and entitlements of the Philippines on different maritime zones, enable our maritime 
institutions to advance national interest in terms of protection, maximization and


sustainability of marine resources, address the roadblocks for our maritime institutions 
and raise the benefits and goals of other relevant maritime laws of the country.
In view of the foregoing, the
s^ill is e^estly sought.


Senate
t©fficp of t'l? n t’fnr^
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 2394
23 AUG -7 P6.19
RtCEIVbO BY;
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
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AN ACT
DECLARING 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 Phiiippines 
in Congress assembied:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine 
Maritime Zones Act"
SEC. 2. Maritime Zones. - The maritime zones of the Philippines 
comprise the internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous 
zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. All territories of the 
Philippines shall generate their respective maritime zones in accordance with 
international law.
SEC. 3. Archipelagic Baselines. - Archipelagic baselines, as used in 
this Act, refer to the baselines as defined under Republic Act No. 9522, 
otherwise known as the "Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Act of 2009".
SEC. 4. Internal Waters. - The internal waters of the Philippines, as 
appropriate, refer to the following:


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(a) Waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not 
forming part of archipelagic waters under Section 5 of this Act and delineated 
in accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the 
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and
(b) Waters on the landward side of the baselines of the territorial sea of 
territories outside of the archipelagic baselines, drawn in accordance with 
Article 8 of the UNCLOS.
The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its internal waters and the 
airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS 
and other existing laws and treaties.
SEC. 5. Archipelagic Waters, - The archipelagic waters of the 
Philippines refer to the waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines 
except as provided for under Section 4 of this Act.
Within the archipelagic waters, closing lines for the delineation of 
internal waters shall be drawn pursuant to Article 50 of the UNCLOS and other 
existing laws and treaties.
The Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over its 
archipelagic waters and the airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in 
accordance with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.
SEC. 6. Territorial Sea, - The territorial sea of the Philippines refers 
to the adjacent belt of sea measured twelve (12) nautical miles from the 
baselines of the territorial sea as determined In accordance with the provisions 
of Part II or Part IV of the UNCLOS as appropriate.
The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its territorial sea and the 
airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil In accordance with the UNCLOS 
and other existing laws and treaties.


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SEC. 7. Contiguous Zone. - The contiguous zone of the Philippines
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refers to the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the
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extent of twenty-four (24) nautical miles from the baselines from which the
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breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
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In accordance with the UNCLOS, the Philippines exercises control over
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this zone necessary to:
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(a) 
Prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or
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sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; and
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(b) 
Punish infringement of the above laws and regulations
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committed within its territory or territorial sea.
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SEC. 8. Exclusive Economic Zone. - The exclusive economic zone
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(EEZ) of the Philippines refers to the waters beyond and adjacent to its
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territorial sea and up to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles from
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the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, as
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established by Presidential Decree No. 1599, otherwise known as the "Philippine
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Exclusive Economic Zone of 1978", and to the extent consistent with the other
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provisions of this Act and with the provisions of the UNCLOS.
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In accordance with the UNCLOS, the Philippines exercises within Its EEZ
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the following rights:
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(a) 
Sovereign rights over this area for the purpose of exploring and
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exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or
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nonliving, of the waters superjacent to the seabed, and the seabed and its
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subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and
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exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the sun, water,
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tide and wind; and
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(b) Jurisdiction with regard to: (i) the establishment and use of
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artificial islands, installations and structures; (ii) marine scientific research; (Mi)
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the protection and preservation of the marine environment; and (iv) other
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rights and duties provided for in the UNCLOS.


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SEC. 9. Continental Shelf. - The continental shelf of the Philippines 
comprises the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond 
its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the 
outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of two hundred (200) 
nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea 
is measured, where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend 
up to that distance.
Continental shelves extending beyond two hundred (200) nautical miles 
from the baselines shall be delineated in accordance with Article 76 of the 
UNCLOS.
The Philippines exercises sovereign rights to explore and exploit the 
mineral, petroleum and nonliving resources of the seabed and subsoil and living 
organisms belonging to the sedentary species, as well as jurisdiction with regard 
to the establishment and use of artificial Islands, installations and structures on 
the seabed, drilling and tunneling, and other rights as provided for in 
accordance with the UNCLOS, Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the 
"Philippine Mining Act of 1995'' and other existing laws and treaties.
SEC. 10. Adherence to Existing Laws. - Other rights of the Philippines 
relative to its maritime zones and entitlements shall be exercised in accordance 
with the UNCLOS, the awards rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal in Permanent 
Court of Arbitration (PCA) Case No. 2013-19, in the matter of the South China 
Sea Arbitration between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's 
Republic of China, handed down on July 12, 2016 at The Hague, The 
Netherlands and other laws and regulations on maritime zones and entitlements 
of the Philippines and international law.
SEC. 11. Delimitations. - Where the maritime zones defined in this Act 
overlap with the maritime zones of a neighboring State, the common 
boundaries shall be determined by agreement with that State in accordance 
with the relevant principles of delimitation under international law, including the 
UNCLOS.


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SEC. 12. Reciprocity and Mutual Respect.-J\\Q rights and privileges 
of foreign vessels and aircraft in the Philippine maritime zones declared herein 
are recognized under conditions of reciprocity and mutual respect. Vessels and 
aircraft of foreign States that do not abide by, or are inconsistently with, the 
UNCLOS and international law shall not be entitled to exercise the rights, or be 
owed the obligations, relative to the maritime zones declared herein.
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional or Invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws inconsistent with or contrary to 
the provisions of this Act are deemed amended or repealed accordingly.
SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,