EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2333
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
DEFINING THE MARITIME ZONES OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine archipelago is blessed with expansive waters and diverse marine 
resources residing therein. An abundance of fish and marine creatures provide food 
security, pockets of oil and gas fuel economic development, their scenic beauty and 
tranquility offer countless opportunities for the tourism sector, while the sea lanes 
allow trade and commerce to prosper. We should protect these endowments, and 
ensure that they will also be enjoyed by the future generations.
Considering the precarious geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region, to which 
South East Asia sits right at the center and the Philippines lies at its epicenter, it is 
imperative that the Filipino nation preserves and protects what is rightly ours through 
consistent policy and whole-of-nation strategy, including a strong foothold on 
domestic laws and legislation.
This bill defines the expanse of the maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction, 
over which the Philippines exercises sovereignty, consistent with the United Nations 
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The measure follows the 2009 
enactment of Republic Act No. 9522 which specifically defined and described the 
baselines of the Philippine archipelago. It also seeks to further strengthen the legal 
framework which will govern our maritime policy and to protect our maritime rights 
and territorial entitlements in accordance with international law.


In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended.
RAMO^ONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2333
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
DEFINING THE MARITIME ZONES OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 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 shall be
4 
comprised of its internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone,
5 
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. All territories of the Philippines
6 
shall generate their respective maritime zones in accordance with international law.
7 
Sec. 3. Archipelagic Baselines. — Archipelagic baselines, as used in this Act, shall
8 
refer to the baselines as defined under Republic Act No. 9522, entitled; "An Act to
9 
Amend Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 3046, as Amended by Republic Act No.
10 
5446, to Define the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines, and for Other Purposes".
11 
Sec. 4. Internal Waters. — The internal waters of the Philippines shall refer to
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the following:
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a) Waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not forming part
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of the archipelagic waters under Section 5 hereof and delimited in
15 
accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
16 
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and/or
17 
b) Waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea of
18 
territories outside of the archipelagic baselines.


1 
The Philippines shall exercise sovereignty over its internal waters and the
2 
airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS and
3 
other existing laws and treaties.
4 
Sec. 5. Archipelagic Waters. — The archipelagic waters of the Philippines shall
5 
refer to the waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines except as
6 
provided for under Section 4 hereof.
7 
Within the archipelagic waters, closing lines for the delimitation of internal
8 
waters shall be drawn pursuant to Article 50 of the UNCLOS and other existing laws
9 
and treaties.
10 
The Philippines shall exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction over its archipelagic
11 
waters and the airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with
12 
the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.
13 
Sec. 6. Territorial Sea. — The territorial sea of the Philippines shall refer to the
14 
belt of sea measured twelve (12) nautical miles from the baselines or from the low-
15 
water line, as the case may be.
16 
The Philippines shall exercise sovereignty over its territorial sea and the
17 
airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS and
18 
other existing laws and treaties.
19 
Sec. 7. Contiguous Zone. - The contiguous zone of the Philippines shall refer
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to the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up to the extent of twenty-
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four (24) nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial
22 
sea is measured.
23 
The Philippines shall exercise sovereign rights over this zone in accordance with
24 
the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.
25 
Sec. 8. Exclusive Economic Zone. - The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
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Philippines shall refer to the waters beyond and adjacent to its territorial sea and up
27 
to the extent of two hundred (200) nautical miles from the baselines from which the
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breadth of the territoriai sea is measured.
29 
The Philippines shall exercise sovereign rights over this area including the right
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to explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or non-organic resources in
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accordance with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.


1 
Sec. 9. Continental Shelf. - The continental shelf of the Philippines shall be
2 
comprised of the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its
3 
territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer
4 
edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of two hundred (200) nautical miles
5 
from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where
6 
the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance.
7 
Continental shelves extending beyond two hundred (200) nautical miles from
8 
the baselines shall be delineated in accordance with Article 76 of the UNCLOS.
9 
The Philippines shall exercise sovereign rights over this area including the right
10 
to explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or non-organic resources in
11 
accordance with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.
12 
Sec. 10. Adherence to Existing Laws. - Other rights of the Philippines not
13 
stipulated in this Act shall be exercised in accordance with international law and the
14 
laws and regulations of the Philippines.
15 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
16 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof not affected thereby
17 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.
18 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws inconsistent with or contrary to the
19 
provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
20 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
21 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,