Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Maria Rachel J. Arenas 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed legislation seeks to declare and define the maritime zones under the 
jurisdiction of the Philippines. 
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 
jurisdiction of coastal states, including its own over which sovereignty and appurtenant 
sovereign rights can be exercised. This bill harmonizes our domestic legislations with the 
international regime for the oceans, further clarifying the nature and status of the waters 
connecting the various islands of the Philippines and the adjacent seas of the archipelago. It 
delineates the territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf, and 
extended continental shelf which will make clear the exclusive rights and sovereign rights, as 
well as obligations, in each maritime zone.  
The bill likewise establishes the legal bases by which social, economic, commercial, 
and other activities may be conducted thereat. The delineation of the contiguous zone, as a case 
in point, is important for purposes of customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary law 
enforcement.  
The delineation of these zones will greatly assist the relevant agencies perform their 
roles in maritime law enforcement and marine resources management. 
This bill also provides for the necessary flexibility in the passage of subsequent laws 
pertinent to the rights and obligations to which the Philippines is entitled and may exercise over 
its maritime zones. 
Our esteemed colleagues in the 18th Congress, Representatives Ann K. Hofer, Manuel 
DG. Cabochan III, Rufus B. Rodriguez and Cyrille “Beng” F. Abueg-Zaldivar, led the detailed 
and thorough discussions on this matter, resulting in the passage of this version on Third 
Reading. 
August 22, 2022
2:16 pm
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In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly and earnestly recommended. 
 
 
 
 
 
MARIA RACHEL J. ARENAS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Representative 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3rd District, Province of Pangasinan 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
Introduced by Representative Maria Rachel J. Arenas 
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.  
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SEC. 3.   Archipelagic Baselines. – Archipelagic baselines, as used in this Act, refer 
to the baselines as defined under Republic Act No. 9522, otherwise known as the “Philippine 
Archipelagic Baselines Act of 2009”. 
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 
(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 accordance with the UNCLOS, the Philippines exercises control over this zone 
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 exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the 
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, otherwise known 
as the “Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone of 1978”, and to the extent consistent with the 
other provisions of this Act and with the provisions of the UNCLOS.  
In accordance with the UNCLOS, the Philippines exercises within the EEZ the 
following rights:  
(a) Sovereign rights over this area for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, 
conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, 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, tide, and wind; 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, Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise 
known as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995”, and other existing laws and treaties. 
SEC. 10.   Adherence to Existing Laws. – Other rights of the Philippines relative to      
its maritime zones and entitlements shall be exercised in accordance with the UNCLOS, the 
awards rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal in Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Case No. 
2013-19, in the matter of  the South China Sea Arbitration between the Republic of the 
Philippines and the People’s Republic of China, handed down on July 12, 2016 at The Hague, 
The Netherlands and other laws and regulations on maritime zones and entitlements of the 
Philippines and international law. 
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 are deemed amended or repealed accordingly.   
SEC. 14.   Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its       
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,