FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
1''i t!lIl h> 
lll!r." <If U!'''£'md.rg 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2723 
'11 
MAR-l 
P4:03 
Introduced by Senator Sergio Osmei'ia III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines, as signatory and party to the 1982 United Nations 
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), recognizes the establishment of 
various maritime zones and jurisdictions of coastal states over which sovereignty 
and appurtenant sovereign rights can be exercised. 
This bill is a general declaration of and defines the maritime zones under 
the jurisdiction of the Philippines over which the Philippines exercises sovereignty 
and appurtenant sovereign rights consistent,with the UNCLOS. 
In order to effectuate the ends for which the Philippines, as a sovereign 
coastal state, entered into as signatory and party to the UNCLOS, and for the 
• 
preservation and protection of its maritime. rights, the passage of this measure is 
earnestly sought. 
/I ~ltA./l n 
S~~IO OSMENA III 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
• 
S.B. No. 2.723 
) 
) 
) 
'11 
MAR -1 
P4 :03 
Introduced by Senator Sergio Osmena III 
AN ACT 
TO DEFINE THE MARITIME ZONES OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
, 
" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as "An Act to Define 
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the Maritime Zones of the Republic of the Philippines", otherwise known as the 
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Philippine Maritime Zones Act.: 
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SECTION 2. The maritime zones ,af the Philippines are comprised of the 
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Internal, Waters, Archipelagic Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, 
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Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf. All territories of the 
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Philippines generate their respective maritime zones in accordance with 
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international law, 
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SECTION 3. Internal Waters of the Philippines refers to the: 
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(a) 
waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not 
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forming part of Archipelagic Waters under Section 4 hereof and 
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delimited in accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United Nations 
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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 
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territories outside of the archipelagic baselines, 
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The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its Internal Waters and the 
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airspace over it as well as its seabed aAd subsoil in accordance with the 1982 
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United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other existing 
2 
laws treaties. 
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SECTION 4. 
The Archipelagic Waters of the Philippines refers to the 
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waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines except as provided for 
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under Section 3 hereof. 
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Within the archipelagic waters, closing lines for the delimitation of internal 
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water shall be drawn pursuant to Article ?O of UNCLOS and other existing laws 
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treaties. 
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SECTION 5. 
The Territorial Sea of the Philippines shall be the belt of 
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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 
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airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with UNCLOS 
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and other existing laws and treaties. 
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SECTION 6. The Contiguous Zone of the Philippines refer to the waters 
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beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea and up to the extent of 24 nautical 
, 
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miles 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 
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with UNCLOS and other existing laws an€! treaties. 
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SECTION 7. 
The Exclusive Ecpnomic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines 
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refer to the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent 
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of two-hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines or from the low-water 
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line, as the case may be. 
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this area including the 
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right to explore and exploit living and non-living, organic or non-organic 
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resources in accordance with UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties. 
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SECTION 8. 
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 
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throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the 
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continental ma~gin, or to a distance of tw~-hundred (200) nautical miles from the 
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baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the 
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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 
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from the baselines shall be delineated in accordance with Article 76 of 
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UNCLOS. 
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights over this area including the 
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right to explore and exploit living and non-living, organic or non-organic 
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resources in accordance with UNCLOS a,nd other existing laws and treaties. 
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SECTION 9. 
Other rights of the Philippines not referred to in this Act 
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shall be exercised in accordance with' international law and the laws and 
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regulations of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 10. 
If the maritime zones of the Philippines overlap with the 
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maritime zones claimed by other countries, the Philippines may delimit these 
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zones and endeavor to resolve the overlap in accordance with means 
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recognized under international law. 
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SECTION 11. 
Repealing Clause. -
All laws inconsistent with or 
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contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. -
If any portion or provision of this 
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Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid: the other portions or provisions hereof 
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not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 13. 
Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen 
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days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two newspapers of 
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general circulation. 
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Approved, 
3