Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. eu

Introduced by Representative ANN K. HOFER

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 III), 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 internal 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.

Kk. HOFER
2nd District, Zamboanga Sibugay


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4195

Introduced by Representative ANN K. HOFER

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 Phil
assembled:

»pines in Congress

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 continental shelf. All territories of the Philippines shall generate their respective
maritime zones in accordance with international 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.”


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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 Nations 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.


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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,