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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative 
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2012, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) 
has approved the Philippines’ territorial claim to Benham Rise as part of the country’s 
continental shelf and territory. It is in accordance to Article 76, paragraph 8 of the 
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Annex II of the Convention.1 
Moreover, Executive Order No. 25 series of 2017 further recognizes the region by 
mandating the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) to 
include the Benham Rise in official maps and charts of the Philippines. 
With the growing aggression of China over the West Philippine Sea, it has also recently 
sought interest in its adjacent maritime regions. In 2017, China has shown interest in 
the Benham Rise Region where a Chinese survey ship supposedly carrying out marine 
scientific research was monitored by the Department of National Defense roaming 
around the maritime territory for as long as three months.2 It has been reported since 
1 United Nations. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Submission by the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 
from https://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/submission_phl_22_2009.htm. Dated July 19, 2012  
2
Rappler. 
Lorenzana: 
China 
showed 
interest 
in 
PH’s 
Benham 
Rise. 
Information 
retrieved 
from 
https://www.rappler.com/nation/lorenzana-china-survey-ship-philippines-benham-rise. Dated March 9, 2017 
May 24, 2021
5:20 pm
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early on that there may be large deposits of oil and natural gas under the Benham 
Rise. 
The approximate 24-million-hectare underwater plateau is considered part of the 
Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf under the 1982 United 
Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).3 Therefore, the Benham Rise 
Region is strongly subjective to the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines. 
This bill seeks to establish the Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan to ensure the 
protection and strategic maritime interests in the country’s Eastern Seaboard, more 
specifically the Benham Rise Region. The Department of National Defense, along with 
security agencies of the government shall develop it to uphold our sovereignty and 
national territory against foreign oppressors. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
Representative 
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List 
3 Official Gazette. Executive Order No. 25, series of 2017. Retrieved from 
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2017/05may/20170516-EO-25-RRD.pdf


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative 
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
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 
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Strategic Defense Plan Act". 
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy.— It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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take decisive measures to protect and defend our Eastern Seaboard from any foreign 
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incursions that might pose a threat to our sovereignty and national territory. Towards 
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this end, the Department of National Defense in close coordination with concerned 
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security agencies of the government, shall come up with a strategic plan to develop 
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our defense capabilities to better protect our Eastern Seaboard and all the resources 
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contained therein. 
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Sec. 3. Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan.— The government shall 
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ensure that the country has the appropriate resources and capabilities to protect 
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strategic maritime interests in the Philippine eastern seaboard. An Eastern Seaboard 
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Strategic Defense Plan, hereinafter referred to as the Plan, shall be formulated in 
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this respect that shall have the following components: 
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(a) Appropriate strategic response forces for the conduct of defense operations 
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under joint warfare concept and to respond to disastrous events through a: 
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(1) Three-tiered Philippine Navy fleet with sub-surface and air warfare 
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capabilities added to a more improved surface capabilities not only for sea 
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denial and patrol, but also to ensure the sovereignty of the country and its 
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Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); 
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(2) Strategic Air Strike Force through air assets in order to gain and maintain 
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air superiority over friendly and contested territories; 
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(3) Credible expeditionary capability which necessitates the formation of an 
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adaptive expeditionary rapid-deployable battle group (Brigade Battle 
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Group), organized in conjunction with the Army and Marines combat 
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organizations; 
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(4) Strategic sea and air lift capability primarily to support rapid deployment 
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and expeditionary capabilities since these require a proportionate capability 
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to move committed forces by air or by sea; 
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(5) Special operations forces that are organized, trained, and equipped to 
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conduct special operations activities (e.g., direct action, reconnaissance, 
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humanitarian assistance, disaster emergency assistance, relief and rescue, 
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evacuation, unconventional warfare and/or mass base operations) or to 
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provide direct support to other special operations forces and/or 
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conventional forces; 
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(6) Missile-based capability from air, land and sea platforms to increase the 
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firepower and effectiveness of strategic response forces; and 
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(7) Mine warfare capability to support other capabilities. 
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(b) Enhanced capabilities to provide coast watch system support functions and to 
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support the conduct of joint defense operations. Among others, these 
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capabilities shall specifically support the following: 
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(1) Joint command and control for strategic response forces which requires 
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communications and information systems that are inter-operable with 
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other agencies and local governments; 
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(2) An increased air and maritime domain awareness to achieve improved 
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situational awareness through faster collection and analysis of shared 
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information; 
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(3) Intelligence-based and focused counter-measures to secure vital 
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installations and energy facilities against threats or terrorist attacks and 
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protect international sea lanes within Philippine territory and the 
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surrounding Exclusive Economic Zone; 
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(4) Interoperability with allied forces requiring the strengthening of 
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international defense and security engagements while protecting our rights 
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to our eastern seaboard including our Exclusive Economic Zone; and 
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(5) A guerrilla warfare plan to support conventional forces. 
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Sec. 4. Formulation and Development of the Plan.— The Department of 
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National Defense in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department 
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of Interior and Local Government and Department of Transportation shall, within six 
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months after the effectivity of this Act, formulate and develop the Plan, including its 
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funding requirements, for the approval of Congress. 
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Sec. 5. Interim Measures.— The Department of National Defense and other 
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concerned departments and agencies shall come up with interim measures such as 
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the conduct of constant maritime patrols, the putting up of Philippine-marked buoys 
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or such other similar devices in Benham Rise, and such other related measures in 
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order to secure and protect our interests in the area while the Plan is still being 
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formulated and developed. 
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause.— If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause.– Any law, presidential decree, executive order, 
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letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or is 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed or amended 
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accordingly. 
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Sec. 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,