Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) — The Department of Foreign Affairs proposes the establishment of three sea routes for foreign ships passing through Philippine waters, Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Thursday.
“Together with our partner agencies in the executive branch, we took the effort of coming up with a unified position on the ASL (Archipelagic Sea Lane) bills…the number of ASLs would be limited to three,” Manalo said during the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones hearing.
According to the United Nations, an ASL is established by an archipelagic state like the Philippines to make way for “expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over its archipelagic waters and the adjacent territorial sea.”
“The enactment of an ASL law has significant national security, diplomatic, and practical implications for the Philippines, given its status as one of the largest archipelagic states in the world,” Manalo added.
The measures tackled include Senate Bill Nos. 78, 462, 1490, 2395 and 2438 which all propose the establishment of ASLs.
DFA said the first of the three sea lanes is the one on the Balintang Channel in the north.
The second route will pass through the Celebes Sea, Cebu Sea, Sulu Sea, near Mindoro and end at the West Philippine Sea.
The last suggested lane will pass through Celebes, Basilan Sulu, Nasubata, Balabac, and also end at the WPS.
Meanwhile, other lanes may be established given that it was designated by the President as the chief executive.
The Senate special panel tackled the ASL bills after a foreign vessel rammed a Filipino fishing boat off the waters of Bajo de Masinloc.
Senator Robin Padilla, who also proposed one of the bills, said ASLs for foreign vessels passing via the county’s exclusive economic zone will provide protection to small fishing vessels.
