Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4889

Introduced by Representatives Al Francis C. Bichara, Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo,
Rodolfo G. Biazon and Jose F. Zubiri III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines, as a signatory and party to the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), recognizes the establishment of
various maritime zones and jurisdictions of coastal states, including its own, over
which sovereignty and appurtenant sovereign rights can be exercised.

The bill is a general declaration and definition of the maritime zones under the
jurisdiction of the Philippines.

‘As such, the passage of this proposed legislative measure aims to provide for
the necessary flexibility in the enactment of subsequent laws pertinent to the rights
and obligations to which the Philippines is entitled and may exercise over its
maritime zones in accordance with the UNCLOS.

In order to effectuate the ends for which the Philippines, as a sovereign
coastal state, entered into as a signatory and party to the UNCLOS, and for the

sought

FRANCISCO ASHLEY L. ACEDILLO



= GE
JOSE F. ZUBIRI III RODOLFO G. IAZON


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

4883

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representatives Al Francis C. Bichara, Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo,
Rodolfo G, Biazon and Jose F. Zubiri III

AN ACT TO DEFINE THE MARITIME ZONES
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

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 shall be
comprised of 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, shall 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 shall refer to

the:

a) Waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not forming
part of archipelagic waters under Section 5 hereof and delimited in
accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and/or

b) Waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea of

territories outside of the archipelagic baselines.

The Philippines shall exercise 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
shall refer to the waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines except as
provided for under Section 4 hereof.

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 shall refer 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 shall exercise 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 shall
refer to the waters beyond and adjacent to the 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 shall exercise sovereign rights over this zone in accordance
with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.

SEC. 8. Exclusive Economic Zone. — The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of
the Philippines shall refer 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 shall exercise sovereign rights over this area including the
tight 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 shall be
comprised of 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 shall exercise 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. Overlapping Maritime Zones. — if the maritime zones of the
Philippines overlap with the maritime zones claimed by other countries, the
Philippines shall delimit these zones and endeavor to resolve the overlaps according
to the recognized means under international law.

SEC. 12. 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. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - 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,