NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1490
ly'iBfUtf of tijc .i
*22 NOV -9 PI .*24
Rb'CEiVID BV
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES IN THE PHILIPPINE 
ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRESCRIBING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS 
OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF 
ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED 
ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSOCIATED 
PROTECTED MEASURES THEREIN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Republic Act No. 9522 ornArcfiipe/agicBase/inesLaiV'\Naser\acX.e6 in 2009, 
which defined the baselines and adjusted the technical details pertaining to the 
Philippine archipelago, to which it exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction as consistent 
with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It affirmed that 
the Republic of the Philippines has dominion, sovereignty and jurisdiction over all 
portions of the national territory as defined in the 1987 Constitution and by provisions 
of applicable laws.
But such law was only the first step in harmonizing domestic legislations in 
accordance with the UNCLOS. The passage of two more bills is needed to completely 
put the "archipelagic house" in order - the Maritime Zones Bill and the Archipelagic 
Sea Lanes Bill. In fact, the designation of Archipelagic Sea Lanes was included twice 
in the Common Legislative Agenda of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory 
Council (LEDAC), during the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses. However, those bills 
languished in the legislative mill since then.


The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, along with the Philippine Maritime 
Zones Act, is also part of the legislative priorities identified under the updated 
Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 as part of ensuring security, public order and 
safety, and ensuring ecological integrity, clean and healthy environment.
As stated in the PDP, the bill establishes archipelagic sea lanes in Philippine 
archipelagic waters and territorial sea and prescribes the rights and obligations of 
foreign ships and aircraft that exercise the right of passage through the established 
sea lanes. Also, it seeks to protect the ecological integrity such that "foreign ships will 
have to confine their navigation within these sea lanes to ensure that vessels will not 
pass through the marine protected areas and marine habitats are protected from 
shipping related activities."
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
s. No. 1490
(0ffitp of tl)c # rnTfnrf
*22 NOV-9 Pl:24
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES IN THE PHILIPPINE 
ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRESCRIBING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS 
OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF 
ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED 
ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSOCIATED 
PROTECTED MEASURES THEREIN
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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I.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Archipelagic 
Sea Lanes Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State in the exercise of its duty to protect 
its maritime domain shall implement and adhere to the provisions of the 1982 United 
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and relevant international 
conventions to which the Philippines is a party.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are defined 
in accordance with the UNCLOS:
a. Archipelagic sea lane- shall refer to the designated sea lanes and air routes in 
the archipelagic waters through which foreign vessels or aircraft may exercise 
the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage;


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b. Archipelagic sea iane passage- shall refer to the exercise, in accordance with
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the UNCLOS, of the rights of navigation and overflight in the normal mode
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solely for the purpose of continuous, expeditious and unobstructed transit
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between one part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and
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another part of the high seas or an EEZ;
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c. Archipelagic waters - shall refer to the waters on the landward side of the
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archipelagic baselines, except as defined as Internal Waters;
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d. Associated protective measure - shall refer to a measure that a coastal State
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may adopt to regulate international maritime activities for the protection of the
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area at risk;
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e. Hydrographic survey - shall refer to a survey measuring and describing the
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physical features of the navigable portion of the earth's surface (seas) and
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adjoining coastal areas, with special reference to their use for navigation;
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f. Oceanographic survey - shall refer to a study or examination of any physical,
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chemical, biological or geological or geophysical condition in the ocean, or any
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part of it;
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g. Right of Innocent passage- shall refer to the right of foreign vessels to navigate
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through the territorial seas of all States for the purpose of continuous and
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expeditious travel or for proceeding to or from internal waters. The passage is
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innocent when it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the
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coastal State; and
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h. Territorial sea - shall refer to the belt of sea measured twelve (12) nautical
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miles from the baselines or from the low-water line, as the case may be.
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11. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFTS
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WHEN EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES
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PASSAGE
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Sec. 4. Right of Archipelagic Sea Lanes Passage of Foreign Ships and Aircrafts.
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- Foreign ships and aircraft may exercise the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage
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in accordance with the provisions of the UNCLOS, in order to navigate or fly from one
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part of the high seas or an EEZ to another part of the high seas or an EEZ, through or
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over the Philippine archipelagic waters and its adjacent territorial sea. Such sea lanes


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shall be defined by a series of continuous axis lines from the entry points of passage
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routes to the exit points.
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The exercise of the right of archipelagic sea lanes passages shall be through a
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sea lane, or through the air above a sea lane, which has been determined to be an
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archipelagic sea lane that may be used for exercising the right of archipelagic sea
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lanes passage as described in Section 12 hereof.
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Sec. 5. Obligations of Foreign Ships and Aircrafts When Exercising the Right of
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Archipelagic Sea Lanes Passage. -
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a. Foreign ships and aircrafts exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage
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shall pass through or above the archipelagic sea lanes as quickly as possible
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without delay and in the normal mode solely for the purpose of continuous,
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expeditious and unobstructed transit.
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b. Foreign ships and aircrafts that are conducting archipelagic sea lanes passage
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shall not deviate more than twenty-five (25) nautical miles to either side of the
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axis line of the sea lanes: Provided, That such ships and aircrafts shall not
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navigate closer to the coast more than ten percent (10%) of the distance
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between the nearest points on islands bordering the sea lanes.
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c. Foreign ships and aircrafts, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes
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passage, shall refrain from any threat or use of force against the sovereignty,
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territorial integrity, or political independence of the Republic of the Philippines,
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or in any other manger in violation of the principles of international law
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embodied in the Charter of United Nations.
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d. Foreign ships and aircrafts, including military aircrafts and warships, while
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exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, shall refrain from any
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war game exercises using any type of weapons, especially involving the use of
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ordnance.
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e. Except when rendered necessary by force majeure or by distress, an aircraft
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exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage shall not land in Philippine
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territory.
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f. All foreign ships exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage shall
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refrain from stopping, dropping anchor or loitering, except when rendered


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necessary by force majeure or by distress, in order to render assistance to a
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person or persons or a ship or ships experiencing distress.
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g. Foreign ships or aircrafts exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage
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shall refrain from making covert transmissions, interfering with
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telecommunications systems, and communicating directly with an unauthorized
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person or group of persons in Philippine territory.
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Sec. 6. Permit to Conduct Oceanographic or Hydrographic Surveys. - Foreign
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ships or aircrafts, including research or hydrographic survey ships or aircrafts, while
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exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, shall not conduct oceanographic
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or hydrographic surveys, whether with the use of detection equipment or sample
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gathering equipment, unless they have obtained prior permission to do so from the
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appropriate agency of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
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Sec. 7. Prohibition of Fishing, Loading, Unloading of Persons, Goods or
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Currency. -
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a. Foreign ships, including fishing vessels, while exercising the right of archipelagic
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sea lanes passage, shall not conduct any fishing operation or exploitation of
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marine resources in the Philippines.
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b. Foreign fishing vessels, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes
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passage, besides fulfilling their obligations under paragraph (a), shall stow all
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fishing equipment within the hold.
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c. Foreign ships and aircrafts, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes
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passage, shall not load to a ship or unload from a ship persons, goods or
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currency in a manner that contravenes the laws and regulations concerning
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customs, immigration, fiscal matters and health, except when rendered
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necessary by force majeure or by distress.
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Sec. 8. Compliance with Navigational Regulations, Procedures, and Traffic
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Scheme. -
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a. Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, shall
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comply with the generally accepted international regulations, procedures and
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practices concerning safety of navigation, including regulations relating to the
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prevention of collisions at sea.


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b. Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage in a
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sea lane, where a traffic separation scheme has been established for 
the
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regulation of navigation, 
shall comply with the provisions of the traffic
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separation scheme.
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c. Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, shall
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not cause disturbance or damage to navigational facilities or submarine cables
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or pipes.
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d. Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, shall
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not sail too close to prohibited zones as determined by concerned agencies.
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Sec. 9. Obligations of Foreign Civii Aircrafts. -
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a. Foreign civil aircrafts exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage
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shall:
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i. Observe the Rules of the Air established by the International Civil
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Aviation Organization (ICAO); and
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ii. Monitor the radio frequency assigned by the competent internationally
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designated air traffic control authority or the appropriate international
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distress radio frequency at all times.
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b. Foreign national aircrafts exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage
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shall;
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i. Respect the regulations concerning flight safely as detailed in Section 9
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(a) hereof and at all times operate with due regard for the safety of
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navigation; and
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ii. Fulfill their obligations as detailed in Section 9 (a)(2) hereof.
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Sec. 10. Prevention of Marine Pollution and Nuclear Weapons. -
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a. Foreign ships exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage shall not
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expel oil, oily wastes or other noxious substances into the marine environment,
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or conduct other activities in contravention of international regulations and
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standards for the prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution that
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originates from ships.
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b. Foreign ships while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage shall
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not dump waste in Philippine waters.


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c. Consistent with the national interest, the exercise of the right of archipelagic
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sea lanes passage by all foreign ships must be consistent with the constitutional
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mandate of freedom from nuclear weapons in Philippine territory.
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Sec. 11. Liability for Damage. -
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a. The person or legal body responsible for the operation or cargo of commercial
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ships or aircrafts, or foreign government ships or aircrafts operated for
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commercial purposes, shall be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the
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Philippines or any third party as a result of noncompliance with any of the
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provisions of this Act while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes
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passage.
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b. The flag State shall bear international responsibility for any loss or damage
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suffered by the Philippines or any third party as a result of noncompliance with
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any of the provisions of this Act by a foreign warship or aircraft, or other
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government ship operated for noncommercial purposes, while exercising the
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right of archipelagic sea lanes passage in Philippine waters.
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III. THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TO
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DESIGNATE THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES FOR THE RIGHT OF
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ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE AND TO INSTITUTE THE
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ASSOCIATED PROTECTIVE MEASURES THERETO
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Sec. 12. Designation by the President of Archipelagic Sea Lanes. - In pursuit of
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Philippine National Policy, the President shall promulgate through Executive Issuance
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the archipelagic sea lanes, which may be used for the right of archipelagic sea lanes
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passage, and the rules and regulations relating to Associated Protective Measures to
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be prescribed, within areas along the archipelagic sea lanes in accordance with the
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International Maritime Organization (IMO) Conventions and Regulations, and other
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relevant international agreements.
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IV. FINAL PROVISIONS
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Sec. 13. Right of Innocent Passage. - The provisions of this Act shall not
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diminish the rights of foreign ships to exercise the right of innocent passage in
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archipelagic sea lanes.


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Sec. 14. National Coast Watch System (NCWS). - The NCWS, created by virtue
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of Executive Order 57, series of 2011, under the control and supervision of the Office
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of the President, shall serve as the authority to institute coordinating mechanisms for
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the implementation of this Act and shall continue to operate in accordance with its
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present organizational structure.
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In addition to its powers, functions, and duties, the National Coast Watch
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Council (NCWC) shall provide technical and advisory support to the President in
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designating the archipelagic sea lanes. Further, the National Coast Watch Center (NCW
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Center) shall establish, monitor, and implement Associated Protective Measures for
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the designated archipelagic sea lanes.
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Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to, or
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inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of generai
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circulation in the Philippines.
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Approved,