Senate creates special panel on maritime, admiralty zones

The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution creating a special committee which will tackle measures relating to baselines, maritime zones, archipelagic sea lanes, and other matters relevant to the protection of Philippine territory.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva sponsored proposed Senate resolution 702 as chairperson of the Committee on Rules.

“As an archipelagic state, defining the country’s maritime boundaries through a legal framework consistent with the Constitution and international law is fundamental in asserting sovereignty and jurisdiction to protect our national territory and marine resources,” Villanueva wrote in the resolution.

“Now, at a critical time when the Philippines continues to be vulnerable to unlawful activities which threaten its territory, sovereignty, including the livelihood of our people and rights over natural resources, it is compelling for the Senate to prioritize the formulation of policies that will aid in strengthening our country’s defense posture and protecting the general welfare of the Filipinos,” he added.

The majority leader noted that despite the enactment of the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law, there are legal gaps which requires further legislation of comprehensive measures that shall clearly establish and govern the Philippine maritime zone regimes to the full geographical extent allowed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and preclude any unwarranted dispute with other nations.

He mentioned that in the past Congresses, the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) has identified the Maritime Zones bills and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes bills as part of its Common Legislative Agenda.

“In fulfilling the constitutional mandate of protecting the country’s territorial integrity and upholding its sovereignty, the Senate shall create a special committee to be known as the ‘Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones,’” Villanueva’s resolution read.

Under Rule X, Section 14 of the Rules of the Senate which states that “whenever necessary, a special committee shall be organized, the membership and jurisdiction of which shall be determined by the Senate President."

The Senate previously created special committees such as the Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation led by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and the Special Committee on the Rehabilitation of the Manila Central Post Office led by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. — BAP, GMA Integrated News