Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) — A House bill that seeks to declare maritime zones under the country’s jurisdiction was passed in second reading.
House Bill No. 9981, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, aims 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.”
The proposed measure also aims to provide flexibility in implementing laws related to the rights and obligations that the country can exercise over its maritime zones.
Under the bill, maritime zones are comprised of internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf.
“All territories of the Philippines shall generate their respective maritime zone in accordance with international law,” it added.
This also establishes the country’s exclusive rights to explore and exploit all resources found in these zones, in accordance to existing international laws and treaties especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In the upper chamber, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III filed in June Senate Bill No. 2289 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which also aims to the identify maritime zones of the country.
He told CNN Philippines that he is also looking at the possibility of filing a resolution expressing the “sense of the Senate” on China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
This came after the Nov. 18 incident involving Chinese Coast Guard vessels, which blocked and water cannoned two Philippine vessels en route to bring supplies to Filipino soldiers aboard the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
Beijing even demanded for the removal of the grounded Filipino ship in line with Manila’s “commitment,” but the latter flatly denied such an arrangement existed.
RELATED: PH will not remove BRP Sierra Madre — AFP
