:iu t
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 2437
o' tilt iL (
23 SEP 12 P6S1
RF.CEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MARITIME ZONES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is 
also referred to as "The Law of the Sea Convention," is an international convention that 
sets out the legal framework for the seas and the oceans by defining the rights and 
obligations of State Parties with respect to the maritime environment. Its main functions 
are to promote the peaceful use of the seas, regulate the use of marine resources and 
promote the conservation of living resources, and the preservation of the marine 
environment.
The Philippines is one of the original signatories of UNCLOS in 1982, and the 
Philippines subsequently ratified it two years later. However, this does not naturally 
transform UNCLOS as domestic law and the Congress has the obligation and commitment 
to harmonize local legislation with international law. Furthermore, Philippines, as a 
member, has the task to define the maritime zones and align them with measurements 
outlined by the UNCLOS. To address these concerns, the Philippine government already 
enacted necessary steps on this through the enactment of the Archipelagic Baselines of
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the Philippines Act through Republic Act 9522, in 2009, and the adoption of the regime 
of islands under Article 121 of the UNCLOS, as constituted under Presidential Decree No. 
1596 and for the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo De Masinloc also known as Scarborough 
Shoal.
The bill's prime objective is to define such zones of the Philippines in order to 
establish the legal bases by which social, economic, commercial, and other activities may 
be conducted based on the standards of UNCLOS, and clarify the legal powers that the 
Philippines may exercise at the same time.
The Maritime Zones Law, by delineating and underscoring our maritime zones and 
boundaries, can act as foundational policy that (1) addresses various institutional 
roadblocks, (2) advances our national interest in terms of the protection, maximization, 
and sustainability of the marine resources, (3) provides guidance on the fights and 
entitlements of the Philippines on different maritime zones, and (4) can be utilized to 
further the goals of other relevant maritime laws of the Philippines.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
Raffy T. TCrlfG— 
nator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. 2437
V'. 
of t!ie i ' I’l
23 SEP 12 P6 51
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
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:
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Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Maritime Zones
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Act".
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Sec. 2. Definition of Terms- For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
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defined as follows:
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a. 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.
b. 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".


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c. Interna! Waters. - The internal waters of the Philippines, as appropriate, 
refer to the following:
i. waters on the landward side of the archipelagic baselines not 
forming part of archipelagic waters under Section 2 (d) of this Act 
and delineated in accordance with Article 50 of the 1982 United 
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and
ii. 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.
d. 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 2 (c) 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.
e. 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.


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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.
f. 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:
i. prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary 
laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; and
ii. punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed 
within its territory or territorial sea.
g. 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:
i. 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


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economic exploitation and expioration of the zone, such as the
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production of energy from the water, tide, and wind; and
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ii. jurisdiction with regard to: (a) the establishment and use of
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artificial Islands, installations and structures; (b) marine scientific
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research; (c) the protection and preservation of the marine
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environment; and (d) other rights and duties provided for the
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UNCLOS.
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h. Continental Shelf. -The continental shelf of the Philippines comprises the
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seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial
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sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer
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edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of two hundred (200)
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nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territoriai
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sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental margin does not
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extend up to that distance.
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Continental shelves extending beyond two hundred (200) nautical miles
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from the baselines shall be delineated in accordance with Article 76 of the UNCLOS.
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The Philippines exercises sovereign rights to expiore and exploit the minerai,
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petroleum and nonliving resources of the seabed and subsoil and living organisms
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belonging to the sedentary species, as well as jurisdiction with regard to the
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establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures on the seabed,
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drilling and tunneling, and other rights as provided for in accordance with the UNCLOS,
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Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the "Philippine Mining Act of 1995" and other
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existing laws and treaties.
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Sec. 4. Adherence to Existing Laws. - Other rights of the Phiiippines reiative to its
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maritime zones and entitlements shall be exercised in accordance with the UNCLOS, the
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awards rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal in Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Case
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No. 2013-19, in the matter of the South China Sea Arbitration between the Republic of


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the Philippines and the People's Republic of China, handed down on July 12, 2016 at The
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Hague, The Netherlands and other laws and regulations on maritime zones and
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entitlements of the Philippines and international law.
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Sec. 5. Delimitations. - Where the maritime zones defined in this Act overlap with
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the maritime zones of a neighboring State, the common boundaries shall be determined
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by agreement with that State in accordance with the relevant principles of delimitation
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under international law, including the UNCLOS.
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Sec. 6. Reciprocity and Mutual Respect-J\\e rights and privileges of foreign vessels
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and aircraft in the Philippine maritime zones declared herein are recognized under
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conditions of reciprocity and mutual respect. Vessels and aircraft of foreign States that
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do not abide by, or act inconsistently with, the UNCLOS and international law shall not
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be entitled to exercise the rights, or be owed the obligations, relative to the Maritime
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Zones declared herein.
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Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof not affected thereby
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shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions
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of this Act are deemed amended or repealed accordingly.
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Sec. 9. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
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in the OfTicial Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,