Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

31

House Bill No.

ee
Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON
———

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposed measure seeks to establish the Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan to
protect and defend that part of our national territory which includes Benham Rise. There is an
urgent and compelling need for the Philippines to take a proactive stance on the matter of Benham
Rise which has been acknowledged and confirmed by the United Nations Commission on the
Limits of the Continental Shelf pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) to be part of the Philippine Continental Shelf. Under Article 77 of UNCLOS, the
Philippines “exercises over the continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring it
and exploiting its natural resources.”
'

Repeated incursions of foreign vessels at Benham Rise have raised alarming concerns
about our capabilities in protecting our rightful national territory and maritime domain. The most
recent Chinese incursion may even have been exploratory works and documentation in the said
area,

While military confrontation is definitely not an option in order to avoid armed conflict,
passive diplomacy is also insufficient. It is therefore necessary that we adopt a strategic plan on
developing our capability to protect our rights over Benham Rise and our entire eastern seaboard.
A necessary measure is to enable our country to monitor, track and even challenge, vessels in our
waters, even those on genuine innocent passage.

Our Navy and the Coast Guard principally, and the Air Force, secondarily, must be
equipped with sufficient assets to carry out this mission, on top of what they already have, which
are barely adequate to meet the needs in West Philippine Sea and Southern Philippines. The
National Coast Watch Center, which is mainly focused on the West Philippine Sea, should be


improved and its coverage expanded to cover the eastern seaboard particularly the area of Benham
Rise. Our surveillance capability is crucial to the ability to assert our sovereignty.

Fundamental to the mission of projecting our reach outward to the Philippine continental
shelf is the establishment of coastal facilities that will cater to air, sea and surveillance assets on
the eastern seaboard. The Philippines should adopt plans to establish air and seaports to serve as
launch pads for units that will perform security patrols or even interdictions in the Benham Rise
area.

‘These are what this bill envisions to be achieved with the establishment of the Eastern
Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ROZZANO RUFINO B.

Representative
Lone District of Muntinlupa City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

31

House Bill No.

—_—
Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON
——
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 Strategic
Defense Plan Act”.

Sec.2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to take
ecisive measures to protect and defend our Eastern Seaboard from any foreign incursions that
might pose a threat to our sovereignty and national territory. Towards this end, the Department
of National Defense in close coordination with concerned security agencies of the government,
shall come up with a strategic plan to develop our defense capabilities to better protect our
Eastern Seaboard and all the resources contained therein.

Sec. 3. Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan, ~ The government shall ensure that
the country has the appropriate resources and capabilities to protect strategic maritime interests
in the Philippine eastern seaboard. An Eastern Seaboard Strategic Defense Plan, hereinafter
referred to as the Plan, shall be formulated in this respect that shall have the following
components:

a. Appropriate strategic response forces for the conduct of defense operations under
joint warfare concept and to respond to disastrous events through a:

i, three-tiered Philippine Navy fleet with sub-surface and air warfare capabilities
added to a more improved surface capabilities not only for sea denial and patrol,
but also to ensure the sovereignty of the country and its Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ);


ii, Strategic Air Strike Force through air assets in order to gain and maintain air
superiority over friendly and contested territories;

iii, Credible expeditionary capability which necessitates the formation of an adaptive
expeditionary rapid-deployable battle group (Brigade Battle Group), organized in
conjunction with the Army and Marines combat organizations;

iv. Strategic sea and air lift capability primarily to support rapid deployment and
expeditionary capabilities since these require a proportionate capability to move
committed forces by air or by sea; ‘

y. Special operations forces that are organized, trained, and equipped to conduct
special operations activities (e.g., direct action, reconnaissance, humanitarian
assistance, disaster emergency assistance, relief and rescue, evacuation,
unconventional warfare and/or mass base operations) or to provide direct support
10 other special operations forces and/or conventional forces:

vi. Missile-based capability from air, land and sea platforms to increase the firepower
and effectiveness of strategic response forces; and

vii. Mine warfare capability to support other capabilities.

b. Enhanced capabilities to provide coast watch system support functions and to
support the conduct of joint defense operations. Among others, these capabilities shall
specifically support the following:

Joint command and control for strategic response forces which requires
communications and information systems that are inter-operable with other
agencies and local governments; '

An increased air and maritime domain awareness to achieve improved situational
awareness through faster collection and analysis of shared information;

iii. Intelligence-based and focused counter-measures to secure vital installations and
energy facilities against threats or terrorist attacks and protect international sea lanes
within Philippine territory and the surrounding Exclusive Economic Zone;

iv. Interoperability with allied forces requiring the strengthening of international
defense and security engagements while protecting our rights to our eastern
seaboard including our Exclusive Economic Zone; and

v. A guerrilla warfare plan to support conventional forces.

Sec. 4. Formulation and Development of the Plan. ~ The Department of National
Defense in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and
Local Government and Department of Transportation shall, within six months after the
effectivity of this Act, formulate and develop the Plan, including its funding requirements, for
the approval of Congress. '


Sec. 5. Interim Measures. ~The Department of National Defense and other concerne
departments and agencies shall come up with interim measures such as the conduct of constanl
maritime patrols, the putting up of Philippine-marked buoys or such other similar devices in
Benham Rise, and such other related measures in order to secure and protect our interests in
the area while the Plan is still being formulated and developed.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting,

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree, executive order, letter of
instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or is inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,