Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed legislation seeks to declare and define the maritime zones under the 
jurisdiction of the Philippines to further preserve and protect our maritime rights.  
Our Constitution already has Section 2, Article II of the Constitution provides for an 
“incorporation clause”, which states that: 
“The Philippines...adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part 
of the law of the land...” 
The foregoing includes treaties like the UNCLOS and is also considered as part of the 
law of the land. However, enacting a law to this effect can strengthen the country’s 
claims over its maritime zones. The proposed measure also seeks to prevent any 
unwarranted and undesirable dispute with other nations involving our maritime areas. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 15, 2023
9:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE MARITIME 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: 
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.” 
SEC. 4. Internal Waters. – The internal waters of the Philippines, as appropriate, 
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 delineated in accordance with 
Article 50 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
(UNCLOS); and 
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(b) waters on the landward side of the baselines of the territorial sea of territories 
outside of the archipelagic baselines, drawn in accordance with Article 8 of the 
UNCLOS. 
 
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 delineation of internal waters shall 
be drawn pursuant to Article 50 of the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties. 
 
The Philippines exercises 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 adjacent 
belt of sea measured twelve (12) nautical miles from the baselines of the territorial 
sea as determined in accordance with the provisions of Part II or Part IV of the 
UNCLOS as appropriate. 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
In this zone the Philippines exercises, in accordance with the UNCLOS, control 


 
 
necessary to: 
(a) prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and 
regulations within its territory or territorial sea; and 
(b) punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its 
territory or territorial sea. 
 
SEC. 8. Exclusive Economic Zone. – The EEZ ofthe 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, as established by Presidential Decree No. 1599 (1978), entitled 
“Establishing An Exclusive Economic Zone And For Other Purposes” and to the 
extent consistent with the other provisions of this Act and with the provisions of the 
UNCLOS. 
 
In this zone the Philippines exercises, in accordance with the UNCLOS: 
(a) sovereign rights over this area for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, 
conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or nonliving, of 
the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with 
regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the 
zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds; and 
(b) jurisdiction with regard to: (i) the establishment and use of artificial islands, 
installations and structures; (ii) marine scientific research; (iii) the protection and 
preservation of the marine environment; and (iv) other rights and duties provided 
for in the UNCLOS. 
 
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 to explore and exploit the mineral, 
petroleum and nonliving resources of the seabed and subsoil and living organisms 
belonging to the sedentary species, as well as jurisdiction with regard to the 
establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures on the seabed, 
drilling and tunneling, and other rights as provided for in accordance with the 
UNCLOS, RA 7942, and other existing laws and treaties. 
 
SEC. 10. Adherence to Existing Laws. – Other rights of the Philippines relative to its 
maritime zones and entitlements not stipulated in  this Act shall be exercised in 
accordance with the laws and regulations of the Philippines and international law, 
primarily the UNCLOS, and the awards in the South China Sea Arbitration (The 
Republic of the Philippines v. The People’s Republic of China, PCA Case No. 
2013-19, The Hague, 12 July 2016). 
 
SEC. 11. Delimitations. – Where the maritime zones defined in this Act overlap with 
the maritime zones of a neighboring State, the common boundaries shall be 
determined by agreement with that State in accordance with the relevant principles of 
delimitation under international law, including the UNCLOS. 
 
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 including RA 3046 as amended by RA 5446, and PD 1596 are deemed 
amended, modified or repealed accordingly. 
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,