NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of th?
•22 AUG-8 PI 40
SENATE
s. No. 1089
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
DEFINING THE MARITIME ZONES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Following the enactment of Republic Act No. 9522 or the Archipelagic 
Baselines Act in May 2009 and the Supreme Court ruling in 2011 upholding its 
constitutionality, there was a push to further strengthen the domestic legal 
framework with respect to the nation's territory and maritime entitlements. The 
ruling also recognized RA 9522 as an important tool and starting point to demarcate 
and protect the country's maritime zones and continental shelf under UNCLOS.
During the 15th and 16th Congresses, the Legislative Executive Development 
Advisory Council (LEDAC) named the Maritime Zones Bill, as well as the Archipelagic 
Sea Lanes Bill, as part of the Common Legislative Agenda. In both instances, the 
House of Representatives approved on Third and Final Reading the Maritime Zones 
Bill; but the measure stalled In the Senate.
In expressing support to the legislation, the Department of Foreign Affairs 
(DFA) stressed the importance of passing the bill "at the soonest possible time" to 
"completely put the archipelagic house in order.1" During the public hearings 
conducted by Senate Committee on Foreign Relations during the 16th Congress, the
1TSN, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations public hearing, April 27, 2012
1


bill was also met with overwhelming support from various stakeholders, including 
the DFA, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of National Defense (DND), 
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) and members of the academe. It is thus surprising that the bill languished in 
the halls of Congress and was never passed.
Consistent with the thrust of the national government in pursuing a rules- 
based approach to protecting the country's territory and sovereignty, and promoting 
peace, security and development in the region, the Maritime Zones Act could be a 
potent instrument that the State may employ and maximize in managing issues 
concerning its regional neighbors. Defining our maritime boundaries will not only 
further clarify the nation's maritime entitlements, rights and obligations In 
accordance with international law, but will also lay the solid foundation for other 
future strategic policies and government actions, such as law enforcement, resource 
management and environmental preservation.
This version is the one approved by the House of Representatives and 
transmitted to the Senate during the Eighteenth Congress. This measure is also one 
of the legislative priorities identified under the updated Philippine Development Plan 
In separate spheres of ensuring security, public order and safety, and of ensuring 
ecological integrity, clean and healthy environment.
In view of the foregoing considerations, this representation is making another 
pitch toward the Immediate passage of this long overdue legislation.
INGGOY E3ERC1TO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1089
of til? ^rriTtnrp
72 AUG-8 PI ’40
RHCEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
DEFINING THE MARTTIME 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:
1 
Sec±ion 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Philippine Maritime
2 
Zones Act’.
3 
Sec. 2. Maritime Zones. -• The maritime zones of the Philippines comprise the
4 
internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive
5 
economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. All territories of the Philippines shall
6 
generate their respective maritime zones in accordance with international law.
7 
Sec. 3. Archipelagic Baselines. - Archipelagic baselines, as used in this Act,
8 
shall refer to the baselines as defined under Republic Act No. 9522, otherwise known
9 
as the "Philippine Arcnipelagic Baselines Act of 2009."
10 
Sec. 4. Internal Waters. - The internal waters of the Philippines, as
11 
appropriate, refer to the following:
12 
a) Waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not forming part
13 
or the archipelagic waters under Section 5 of this Act and delineated in
14 
accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
15 
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and


1 
b) Waters on the landward side of the baselines of the territorial sea of
2 
territories outside of the archipelagic baselines, drawn in accordance with
3 
Article 8 of the UNCLOS.
4 
The Philippines exercises sovereignty over its internal waters and the airspace
5 
over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS and other
6 
existing lav.s and treaties.
7 
Sec. 5. Archipelagic Waters. - The archipelagic waters of the Philippines refer
8 
to the waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines except as provided
9 
for under Section 4 of this Act.
10 
Within the archipelagic waters, closing lines >or the delineation of internal
11 
waters shall be drawn pursuant to Article 50 of the UNCLOS and other existing laws
12 
and treaties.
13 
The Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over its archipelagic
14 
waters and the airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with
15 
the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.
16 
Sec. 6. Territorial Sea. - The territorial sea of the Philippines refers to the
17 
adjacent belt of sea measured twelve (12) nautical miles from the baselines of the
18 
territorial sea as determined in accordance with the provisions of Part II or Part IV of
19 
the UNCLOS as appropriate.
20 
The Philippines exercises sovereignty over Its territorial sea and the airspace
21 
over it as well as its seabed and subsoil In accordance with the UNCLOS and other
22 
existing laws and treaties.
23 
Sec. 7. Contiguous Zone. — The contiguous zone of the Philippines refers to
24 
the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-
25 
four (24) nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial
26 
sea is measured.
27 
In accordance with the UNCLOS, the Philippines exercises control over this
28 
zone necessary to:
29 
a) Prevent Infringement of Its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws
30 
and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; and
31 
b) Punish Infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within
32 
its territory or territorial sea.


1 
Sec. 8. Exclusive Economic Zone. - The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
2 
Philippines refers to the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to
3 
the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines from which the
4 
breadth of the territorial sea is measured, as established by Presidential Decree No.
5 
1599, otherwise known as the "Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone of 1978", and to
6 
the extent consistent with the other provisions of this Act and with the provisions of
7 
the UNCLOS.
8 
In accordance with the UNCLOS, the Philippines exercises within the EEZ the
9 
following rights:
10 
a) Sovereign rights over this area for the purpose of exploring and exploiting,
11 
conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-
12 
living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its
13 
subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation
14 
and exploration of i;he zone, such as the ^)roductlon of energy from the
15 
water, tide, and wind; and
16 
b) Jurisdiction with regard to: i) the establishment and use of artificial
17 
islands, in^allations and structures; ii) marine scientific research; ill) the
18 
protection and preservation of the marine environment; and iv) other
19 
rights and duties provided for In the UNCLOS.
20 
Sec. 9. Continental Sheif. - The continental shelf of the Philippines comprises
21 
the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea
22 
throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the
23 
continental margin, or to a cistance of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the
24 
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer
25 
edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance.
26 
Continental shelves extending beyond two hundred (200) nautical miles from
27 
the baselines shall be delineated in accordance with Article 76 of the UNCLOS.
28 
The Philippines exercises sovereign rights to explore and exploit the mineral,
29 
petroleum and nonliving resources of the seabed and subsoil and living organisms
30 
belonging to the sedentary species, as well as jurisdiction with regard to the
31 
establishment and use of artif clal islands, installations and structures on the seabed,
32 
drilling and tunneling, and other rights as provided for in accordance with the


1 
UNCLOS, Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the "Philippine Mining Act of
2 
1995," and other existing laws and treaties.
3 
Sec. 10. Adherence to Existing Laws. - Other rights of the Philippines relative
4 
to its maritime zones and entitlements shall be exercised in accordance with the
5 
UNCLOS, the awards rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal in Permanent Court of
6 
Arbitration (PCA) Case No. 2013-19, in the matter of the South China Sea Arbitration
7 
between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China, handed
8 
down on July 12, 2016 at The Hague, The Netherlands and other laws and
9 
regulations on maritime zones and entitlements of the Philippines and international
10 
law.
11 
Sec. 11. Delimitations. - Where the maritime zones defined in this Act overlap
12 
with the maritime zones of a neighboring State, the common boundaries shall be
13 
determined by agreement with that State In accordance with the relevant principles
14 
of delimitation under international law, including the UNCLOS.
15 
Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any section or part of this Act is held
16 
unconstitutional or Invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected
17 
shall remain In full force and effect.
18 
Sec. 13. Repealing Cl fuse. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
19 
regulations, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
20 
are deemed repealed and modified accordingly.
21 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
22 
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of general
23 
circulation, whichever comes earlier.
Approved,


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
s.No. loso
Senate
j : /7 ^
€>fftc? of Uu’ ^-rriTrarp
*22 AUG-8 PI :41
RECEiVED 3';.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy EJercito Estrada
AN ACT
TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR 
HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE (R.A. 7431) OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1992, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 1992, Republic Act 7431 was enacted in order to regulate, and at the same 
time, upgrade the practice oJ radiologic technology In the Philippines. Through this 
law, the government sought to protect the public from the hazards posed by radiation 
as well as to ensure safe and proper diagnosis, treatment, and research through the 
application of machir^s and/or equipment using radiation.
In order to uphold such policy, RA 7431 created the Board of Radiologic 
Technology composed of three (3) radiologic technologist, one (1) radiologist, and 
one (1) medical physicist. However, including a radiologist and a medical physicist in 
the board defeats the intent of the law. Under the law, a radiologist Is a licensed 
physician who specializes in ihe diagnosis or treatment of diseases with the use of 
radiation while a medical physicist specializes in the application of the principles and 
techniques of physics in medicine. These are entirely different from those who practice 
radiologic technology-related professions. Whereas this specific technology is an 
auxiliary branch of radiology which deals with the application of radio frequency rays


in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, this set up then does not call for 
representation of radiologists and medical physicists to the Board.
This proposec measure then seeks to address this loophole in the law by 
excluding the radiologist a! id medical physicist from the Board of Radiologic 
Technology. Also, the bill changes the scope of examinations for radiologic and x-ray 
technologists to more practical subjects with their corresponding weights also 
modified.
Equally important is that this measure also seeks to promote the incorporation 
of the x-ray technology and radiologic technology profession into the Accredited and 
Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of x-ray technologists and radiologic 
technologists sanctioned by the Profession Regulation Commission (PRC).
This proposed bill was adopted from the pertinent committee report filed in the 
Seventeenth Congress by the Committee Civil Service, Government Reorganization 
and Professional Regulation, with some modifications.
In view of the foregoing, passage of the bill is earnestly sought.
I
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator