Maritime laws vital to protect PH waters – PBBM

FILE: JOINT SAIL. The Philippine Navy missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna and the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Ottawa conduct a bilateral sail activity in an undisclosed location in the West Philippine Sea on Thursday (Sept. 21, 2023). The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Friday (Sept. 22) that the joint sail activity signifies a shared commitment in promoting a rules-based international order in the WPS. (Photo courtesy of AFP Western Command via PNA)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The new maritime laws will help the Philippines in protecting its territory by making a clear delineation of its territorial waters, President Ferdinand R. Marcos said Monday.

“Marami tayong sinasabi (We are saying) that we have to protect our sovereign rights and our sovereignty. So, it serves a purpose that we define closely what those boundaries are and that’s what we are doing,” Marcos said in a chance interview on the sidelines of an event at the Okada Manila in Parañaque City.

Asked to react to China’s actions that escalate tensions in the disputed South China Sea, Marcos said: “That’s not unexpected but we have to define closely [our borders].”

Marcos on Nov. 8 signed Republic Act (RA) 12064 (Philippine Maritime Zones Act) and RA 12065 (Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act), to protect the country’s maritime resources, preserve its rich biodiversity, and ensure that Philippine waters remain a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos.

The Maritime Zones Act identifies the Philippine internal waters and defines the archipelagic waters, full entitlement of a 12 nautical miles territorial sea, declaration of a 24 nautical miles contiguous zone from the baselines, and the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone and continental shelf where the Philippines can exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

On the other hand, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act establishes two east-west routes and one north-south route, namely the Sea Lane I (Philippine Sea-Balintang Channel-West Philippine Sea), Sea Lane II (Celebes Sea-Sibutu Passage-Sulu Sea-Cuyo East Pass-Mindoro Strait-West Philippine Sea), and Sea Lane III (Celebes Sea-Basilan Strait-Sulu Sea-Nasubata Channel-Balabac Strait-West Philippine Sea).

The three sea lanes are designated routes and passages in archipelagic waters where all ships and aircraft have the right to traverse in a continuous, expeditious and unobstructed manner.

National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) Administrator Peter Tiangco, in a Palace briefing after the signing of the twin maritime laws, said the new map showing the delineation of maritime zones and archipelagic sea lanes has been prepared.