NINETEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 2487
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was filed during the 18" Congress and was approved by the House of
Representatives.

This bill seeks to declare and define the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the
Philippines.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the
Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty is the international agreement that
resulted from the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS Il),
which took place between 1973 and 1982.

The Philippines, as a signatory and party to the 1982 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. Thus, the
Philippines exercises sovereignty over its internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea,
and airspace over it as well as its seabed and subsoil in accordance with the UNCLOS and
other existing laws and treaties. The Philippines also exercises sovereign rights over its
contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf including the right to
explore and exploit living and nonliving, organic or nonorganic resources.

This present bill will also provide 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.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly and earnestly recommended.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ


NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 2487

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, 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; (ji) marine scientific research; (ii) 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. - \f 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,