Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 9498

Introduced by HON, ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposed measure seeks to establish the Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan to
protect and defend that part of our national territory which includes Benham Rise. There is an
urgent and compelling need for the Philippines to take a proactive stance on the matter of Benham
Rise which has been acknowledged and confirmed by the United Nations Commission on the
Limits of the Continental Shelf pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) to be part of the Philippine Continental Shelf. Under Article 77 of UNCLOS, the
Philippines “exercises over the continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring it
and exploiting its natural resources.”

Repeated incursions of foreign vessels at Benham Rise have raised alarming concerns
about our capabilities in protecting our rightful national territory and maritime domain. The most
recent Chinese incursion may even have been exploratory works and documentation in the said
area.

While military confrontation is definitely not an option in order to avoid armed conflict,
passive diplomacy is also insufficient. It is therefore necessary that we adopt a strategic plan on
developing our capability to protect our rights over Benham Rise and our entire eastern seaboard.
A necessary measure is to enable our country to monitor, track and even challenge, vessels in our
waters, even those on genuine innocent passage.

Our Navy and the Coast Guard principally, and the Air Force, secondarily, must be
equipped with sufficient assets to carry out this mission, on top of what they already have, which
are barely adequate to meet the needs in West Philippine Sea and Southern Philippines. The
National Coast Watch Center, which is mainly focused on the West Philippine Sea, should be


improved and its coverage expanded to cover the eastern seaboard particularly the area of Benham
Rise. Our surveillance capability is crucial to the ability to assert our sovereignty.

Fundamental to the mission of projecting our reach outward to the Philippine continental
shelf is the establishment of coastal facilities that will cater to air, sea and surveillance assets on
the eastern seaboard. The Philippines should adopt plans to establish air and seaports to serve as
launch pads for units that will perform security patrols or even interdictions in the Benham Rise
area,

‘These are what this bill envisions to be achieved with the establishment of the E:
Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Ahe
ROZZANO bes B. Bon

Representative
Lone District of Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 9498

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE EASTERN SEABOARD STRATEGIC DEFENSE PLAN

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Eastern Seaboard Strategic
Defense Plan Act”.

See.2. Declaration of Policy. ~ Itis hereby declared the policy of the State to take decisive
measures to protect and defend our Eastern Seaboard from any foreign incursions that might pose
a threat to our sovereignty and national territory. Towards this end, the Department of National
Defense in close coordination with concerned security agencies of the government, shall come up
with a strategic plan to develop our defense capabilities to better protect our Eastern Seaboard and
all the resources contained therein.

Sec. 3. Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan. ~ The government shall ensure that the
country has the appropriate resources and capabilities to protect strategic maritime interests in the
Philippine eastern seaboard. An Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan, hereinafter referred to
as the Plan, shall be formulated in this respect that shall have the following components:

a. Appropriate strategic response forces for the conduct of defense operations under joint
warfare concept and to respond to disastrous events through a:

i. three-tiered Philippine Navy fleet with sub-surface and air warfare capabilities added
to a more improved surface capabilities not only for sea denial and patrol, but also to
censure the sovereignty of the country and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ);


ii, Strategic Air Strike Force through air assets in order to gain and maintain air superiority
over friendly and contested territories

ili, Credible expeditionary capability which necessitates the formation of an adaptive
expeditionary rapid-deployable battle group (Brigade Battle Group), organized in
conjunction with the Army and Marines combat organizatio

iv. Strategic sea and air lift capability primarily to support rapid deployment and
expeditionary capabilities since these require a proportionate capability to move
committed forces by air or by se

v. Special operations forces that are organized, trained, and equipped to conduct special
operations activities (e.g., direct action, reconnaissance, humanitarian assistance,
disaster emergency assistance. relief and rescue, evacuation, unconventional warfare
and/or mass base operations) or to provide direct support to other special operations
forces and/or conventional forces:

vi. Missile-based capability from air, land and sea platforms to increase the firepower and
effectiveness of strategic response forces; and

vii. Mine warfare capability to support other capabilities.

b. Enhanced capabilities to provide coast watch system support functions and to support
the conduct of joint defense operations. Among others, these capabilities shall specifically support
the following:

i. Joint command and control for strategic response forces which requires
communications and information systems that are inter-operable with other agencies
and local governments;

ii, An increased air and maritime domain awareness to achieve improved situational
awareness through faster collection and analysis of shared information;

ili, Imelligence-based and focused counter-measures to secure vital installations and
against threats or terrorist attacks and protect international sea lanes
in Philippine territory and the surrounding Exclusive Economic Zone;

iv. Interoperability with allied forces requiring the strengthening of international defense
and security engagements while protecting our rights to our eastern seaboard including
our Exclusive Economie Zone; and

v. A guerrilla warfare plan to support conventional forces.

Sec. 4. Formulation and Development of the Plan. ~The Department of National Defense
in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and Local


Government and Department of Transportation shall, within six months after the effectivity of this
Act, formulate and develop the Plan, including its funding requirements, for the approval of
Congress.

Sec. 5. Interim Measures. ~ The Department of National Defense and other concerned
departments and agencies shall come up with interim measures such as the conduct of constant
maritime patrols, the putting up of Philippine-marked buoys or such other similar devices in
Benham Rise, and such other related measures in order to secure and protect our interests in the
area while the Plan is still being formulated and developed.

ec. 6. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree, executive order, letter of
instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or is inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,