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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS ECEIVEN

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
6156

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare and define the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the
Philippines.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the
Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty is the international agreement that
resulted from the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS Ill),
which took place between 1973 and 1982.

The Philippines, as a signatory and party to the 1982 UNCLOS, recognizes the
establishment of various maritime zones and jurisdiction of coastal states, including its own
‘over which sovereignty and appurtenant sovereign rights can be exercised. Thus, the
Philippines exercises sovereignty over its intemal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea,
and airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS and
other existing laws and treaties. The Philippines also exercises sovereign rights over its
contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf including the right to
explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or nonorganic resources.

This present bill will also provide for the necessary flexibility in the passage of
subsequent laws pertinent to the rights and obligations to which the Philippines is entitled
and may exercise over its maritime zones.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly and earnestly recommended.

RUFUS B. RODRYSUEZ



EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

| Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No, 6156

AN ACT
DECLARING AND DEFINING THE MARITIME ZONES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF
THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

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

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 ed shelf. All territories of the Philippines shall generate their respective maritime
zones in lance with intemational law.

SEC 3. Archipelagic Baselines. — Archipelagic baselines, as used in this Act, refer to the
baselines as defined 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."

SEC 4. internal Waters. — The internal waters of the Philippines refer to the following:
a) Waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not forming part of archipelagic
waters under Section 5 of this Act and delimited in accordance with Article 50 of the 1982
United Nation$ Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and
b) Waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea of territories outside of
the archipelagic baselines.

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 delimitation of internal waters
shall be drawn pursuant to Article 50 of the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.

The Philippines shall exercise 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 belt of sea
measured twelve (12) nautical miles from the baselines or from the low-water line, as the
case may be.

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


SEC 7. Contiguous Zone. — The contiguous zone of the Philippines refers to the waters
beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-four (24) nautical
miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this zone in accordance with the
UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.

SEC 8. Exclusive Economic Zone. — The EEZ of the Philippines refers to the waters beyond
and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles
from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this area including the right to
explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or nonorganic resources in accordance with
the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties

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 over this area including the right to
explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or nonorganic resources in accordance with
the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.

SEC 10. Adherence to Existing Laws. — Other rights of the Philippines not stipulated in this
Act shall be exercised in accordance with international law and the laws and regulations of
the Philippines.

SEC 11. 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 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this
Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SEC 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,