Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed bill adopts the proposal of former Supreme Court Justice Francis 
Jardeleza to define applicable baselines in the West Philippine Sea through 
legislation. This measure appears to be the most inexpensive and yet most effective 
means of enforcing the Arbitral Award and strengthening our territorial and maritime 
rights in the West Philippine Sea.  
Firstly, it identifies by name and coordinates at least 100 features being claimed and 
occupied by the Philippines. This is an exercise of acts of sovereignty pertaining to 
each and every feature, consistent with the requirements of international law on the 
establishment and maintenance of territorial title. Secondly, it adopts normal baselines 
around each feature that qualifies as a hightide elevation. This is to delineate the TS 
of each of said feature. Thirdly, it reiterates continuing Philippine sovereignty, 
sovereign rights and jurisdiction, as appropriate, over these features.  
The bill not only enforces the Award but also ensures that the Philippines is the first 
claimant to legislate the individual names and baselines of the claimed features.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
August 3, 2023
2:05 pm
8764


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
IDENTIFYING THE PHILIPPINE MARITIME FEATURES OF THE WEST 
PHILIPPINE SEA, DEFINING THEIR RESPECTIVE APPLICABLE BASELINES, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Maritime Features of the West 
Philippine Sea Act.”  
Sec. 2.  This Act applies to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine 
archipelago collectively named as the “West Philippine Sea” under Administrative 
Order No. 29, Series of 2012. These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters 
around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo De Masinloc, also 
known as Scarborough Shoal.  
Sec. 3.  The Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, as 
appropriate, over the following identified maritime features in the West Philippine Sea, 
without prejudice to other such features that will be discovered or established as part 
of Philippine sovereignty or jurisdiction in the future. 
Name 
Coordinates 
1. Abad Santos Shoal
9°26′N, 111°55′E 
2. Aguinaldo Reef
To be supplied (TBS) 
3. Alicia Annie Reef
9°22′N, 115°26′E 
8764


 
4. Alison Reef  
8°51′N, 114°00′E  
5. Amboyna Cay  
7°51′N, 112°55′E  
6. Ardasier (Antonio Luna) Reef  
7°38′N, 113°56′E  
7. Bajo De Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal)  
TBS  
8. Ban Than Jiao  
10°24’N, 114°24′E  
9. Barque Canada Reef  
8°10′N, 113°18′E  
10. Baybayin Dagat Bank 
 (TBS)  
11. Binago Island 
(TBS)  
12. Bisugo Shoal  
11°19′N, 114°35′E  
13. Bombay Castle  
7°56′N, 111°42′E  
14. Bonifacio (Jacinto and Diego Silang) Reefs 
(TBS)  
15. Brown 
(TBS)  
16. Bulig Shoal 
9°20′N, 115°56′E  
17. Central Reef  
8°55′N, 116°11′E  
18. Collins Reef  
9°45′N, 114°14′E  
19. Commodore (Rizal) Reef  
8°21′N, 115°17′E  
20. Cornwallis South Reef  
8°44′N, 114°11′E  
21. Coronation Bank  
9°21′N, 111°44′E  
22. Cuarteron (Calderon) Reef  
8°53′N, 112°51′E  
23. Dalag Bank  
11°01′N, 117°16′E  
24. Dalagang Bukid (Investigator NE Shoal) Bank  9°10′N, 116°25′E  
25. Dallas Reef 
(TBS)  
26. Day Shoal  
11°26′N, 114°23′E  
27. Del Pilar Reef 
10°48′N, 116°52′E  
28. Dhaulle Shoal  
9°32′N, 112°24′E  
29. Discovery Great Reef  
9°59′N, 113°51′E  
30. Discovery Small Reef  
10°01′N, 114°01′E  
31. Dulong Shoal and Palma Reef  
(TBS)  
32. East Reef  
8°52′N, 112°46′E  
33. Eldad Reef  
10°21′N, 114°42′E  
34. Erica Reef  
8°6′N, 114°09′E  
35. Fiery Cross Reef  
9°37′N, 112°58′E  


 
36. Flat (Patag) Island  
10°50′N, 115°49′E  
37. Foulerton Reef18  
(TBS)  
38. Gaven Reef (North)  
10°13′N, 114°12′E  
39. Gitna Reef 
(TBS)  
40. Gomes Reef  
10°16′N, 113°37′E  
41. Hirane Shoal 
(TBS)  
42. Hopkins Reef  
10°49′N, 116°06′E  
43. Hubo (Handy) Reef 
(TBS)  
44. Investigator Shoal  
08°7′N, 114°29′E  
45. Iroquis and Banker Reefs  
10°37′N, 116°11′E  
46. Irving Reef  
10°53′N, 114°56′E  
47. Iroquis Ridge 
(TBS)  
48. Itu Aba (Ligaw Island)  
10°23′N, 114°21′E  
49. Johnson Patch 
 (TBS)  
50. Johnson Reef  
9°43′N, 114°18′E  
51. Kahoy Bank  
10°35′N, 117°10′E  
52. Kalantiyaw Cay  
7°53′N, 112°55′E  
53. Kanduli Shoal  
9°03′N, 116°41′E  
54. Kingstorm Shoal 
(TBS)  
55. Kota Bank 
(TBS)  
56. Kota (Loaita) Island  
10°41′N, 114°25′E  
57. Hasa Hasa Shoal  
8°54′N, 116°16′E  
58.Hizon Reef  
8°56′N, 113°40′E  
59. Jenkin Patches 
(TBS)  
60. Jubilee Bank  
8°30′N, 116°16′E  
61. Ladd Reef  
8°38′N, 111°40′E  
62. Lagos (Spratley) Island  
8°39′N, 111°29′E  
63. Lansdowne Reef  
9°46′N, 114°22′E  
64. Lankiam Cay (Panata Island)  
10°44′N, 114°31′E  
65.Lapu-Lapu Shoal  
10°20′N, 117°22′E  
66. Lapu-Lapu Reef 
 (TBS)  
68. Lawak Island  
10°44′N, 115°48′E  


 
67. Leslie Bank  
11°04′N 117° 28′ E  
68. Little Patches 
(TBS)  
69. Louisa Reef  
6°20′N, 113°14′E  
70. Mabuhangin Shoal  
11°02′N 117° 39′ E  
71. Mahiwagang Diwata  
10°38′N 117° 39′ E  
72. Malvar Reef  
10°21′N 114° 42′ E  
73. Maralie Reef  
9°13′N 113° 40′ E  
74. Maria Louise Bank 
11°55′N 116° 47′ E  
75. Mariano Cay 
 (TBS)  
76. Mariveles Reef  
7°59′N, 113°50′E  
77. Mascardo Reef   
8°04′N, 113°12′E  
78. Menzies Reef  
11°09′N, 114°48′E  
79. Mischief (Panganiban) Reef  
9°55′N, 115°32′E  
80. Namyit  
10°11′N, 114°22′E  
81. Nanshan (Lawak Island)  
10°45′N, 115°49′E  
82. Nares Bank  
11°16′N, 116°03′E  
83. North Danger Reef  
11°N 114°21′E  
84. Northeast Shoal 
 (TBS)  
85. Northeast Cay (Parola island)  
11°28′N, 114°21′E  
86. Orleana Shoal 
 (TBS)  
87. Osmeña Reef  
8°57′N, 114°11′E  
88. Owen Shoal 
 (TBS)  
89. Pagkakaisa Banks and Reef 
 (TBS)  
90. Paredes Reef  
10°01′N, 113°52′E  
91. Parola Island   
11°27′N, 114°21′E  
92. Parola Island Light  
11°27′N, 54”N,114°21′ 26”E  
93. Pearson Reefs  
8°58′N, 113°41′E  
94. Petley Reef  
10°24′N, 114°34′E  
95. Pigeon Reef  
8°52′N, 114°39′E  
96. Pugad Island 
 (TBS)   
97.Quezon Reefs 
(TBS)  
98. Quirino Atoll  
 (TBS)  


 
99. Rajah Soliman Reef  
9°36′N, 116°10′E  
100. Recto Bank 
 (TBS)  
101. Rifleman Bank 
 (TBS)  
102. Rizal Reef  
8°21′N, 115°18′E  
103. Royal Charlotte Reef  
6°56′N, 113°36′E  
104.Rurok Island  
9°53′N, 114°20′E  
105. Sabina Patches 
 (TBS)  
106. Sabina Shoal 
 (TBS)  
107. Sand Cay  
10°23′N, 114°28′E  
108. Sandy Cay  
 (TBS)  
109. Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal)  
18º 23'N, 110 2'E  
110. Shinko Shoal 
 (TBS)  
111. Sikatuna Shoal  
10°06′N, 117°22′E  
112. Silangan Reef 
 (TBS)  
113. Sin Cowe  
9°52′N, 114°19′E  
114. South Reef  
11°23′N, 114°18′E  
115. Southern Bank  
10°41′N, 116°50′E  
116. Southwest Cay  
11°26′N, 114°20′E  
117. Spratly  
8°38′N, 114°25′E  
118. Stag Shoal 
 (TBS)  
119. Subi Reef  
10°54′N, 114°06′E  
120. Swallow Reef  
7°23′N, 113°48′E  
121. Tatlong Tulis Shoal 
 (TBS)  
122. Tennent Reef  
8°50′N, 114°36′E  
123. Thitu (Pag-Asa Island)  
11°03′N, 114°17′E  
124. Tizard Bank 
 10°16’59.33”N, 114°26’37.81”E  
125. West Reef  
8°52′N, 112°15′E  
126. West York (Likas Island)  
11°05′N, 115°01′E  
127. Whitson Reef (Julian Felipe Reef)  
10°00′N, 114°43′E  
128. Zamora Reef  
10°74′N, 114°06′E  
 
 
 


 
Sec. 4. The breadth of the territorial sea adjacent to the coast of each island shall 
extend to a distance of twelve nautical miles measured seaward from the baselines. 
 
Sec. 5. The breadth of the contiguous zone shall extend to a distance of 24 nautical 
miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. 
 
Sec. 6. The Philippines adopts the following baselines of each identified offshore rock 
or high tide feature within the West Philippine Sea, without prejudice to the 
determination of the baselines of other such maritime features over which the 
Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction in the future: 
 
Name 
Baselines 
1. Abad Santos Shoal   
 
2. Alicia Annie Reef  
 
3. Bajo De Masinloc  
 
4. Baybayin Dagat Bank  
 
5. Binago Island  
 
6. Commodore (Rizal) Reef  
 
7. Cuarteron (Calderon) Reef  
 
8. Flat (Patag) Island   
 
9. Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef  
 
10. Gaven Reef (North)  
 
11. Hasa Hasa Shoal  
 
12. Investigator Shoal   
 
13. Itu Aba (Ligaw Island)  
 
14. Jacinto Reef  
 
15. Johnson (Mabini) Reef   
 
16. Kota Bank  
 
17. Kota (Loaita) Island   
 
18. Lagos (Spratley) Island  
 
19. Lapu Lapu Shoal  
 
20. Malvar Reef  
 
21. Mckennan Reef  
 


 
22. Nanshan (Lawak Island)  
 
23. Northeast Cay (Parola Island)  
 
24. Paredes Reef  
 
25. Parola Island Light  
 
26. Quirino Atoll   
 
27. Royal Charlotte Reef  
 
28. Rurok Island  
 
29. Sabina Shoal   
 
30. Sandy Cay  
 
31. Sin Cowe Island  
 
32. Swallow Reef  
 
33. Tennent Reef  
 
34. Thitu (Pag-Asa Island)  
 
35. West York (Likas Island)  
 
 
Sec. 7. The rights of the Philippines over the territorial sea and contiguous zone  of 
each maritime feature identified in this Act, as may be applicable,  shall be exercised 
in accordance with Philippine laws and international law, particularly the United 
Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 
as interpreted in the Award dated 12 July 2006 rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal in  In 
re Arbitration Between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of 
China, PCA Case No. 2013-19.  
 
Sec. 8. The provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1596, Republic Act No. 9522 and 
Republic Act No. 3046, as amended by Republic Act No. 5446, and all other laws, 
decrees, executive orders, rules, judgments, and issuances inconsistent with this Act 
are hereby amended or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 9.  The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) shall 
produce and publish charts and maps of the Philippines reflecting this Act, within six 
(6) months of the effectivity of this Act.  
 


 
Sec. 10. All departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the 
Government shall use and employ the designations of the maritime features named 
and identified in this law in all communications, messages and public documents, to 
popularize the use of such designations in the general public, both domestically and 
internationally.  
 
Sec. 11.  All departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the 
Government shall henceforth use the official Philippine maps and charts produced and 
published by NAMRIA in accordance with this Act.  
 
For this purpose, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) shall issue circulars 
requiring the use of said official Philippine maps in relevant subjects, researches and 
instructional materials, such as, among other things, text books, instructional 
materials, electronic, web, social media, and audio-visual presentations.  
 
Sec. 12. The NAMRIA shall ensure compliance with this Act, pursuant to Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DENR-AO) No. 31 (s. 
1988) and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.  
 
Sec. 13.  The  Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and in 
consultation with NAMRIA and other appropriate government agencies, shall deposit, 
within six months of its effectivity, a copy of this Act, enclosing the official maps and 
charts of the Philippines reflecting the aforementioned maritime features, their  
coordinates, baselines, territorial sea and where applicable, their contiguous zone, 
with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and notify accordingly relevant 
international organizations, such as the International Hydrographic Organization and 
the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names.  
 
Sec. 14. The Heads of Agencies Concerned Shall Include in their Programs the 
Implementation of this Act in their Programs, the funding of which shall be included in 
the Annual General Appropriations Act.   
 


 
Sec. 15. Should any part or provision of this Act be held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
other parts or provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect.  
 
Sec. 16. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,