Bicam approves final version of Maritime Zones Bill

A bicameral conference committee on Wednesday approved the final version of the Maritime Zones Bill.

In an ambush interview, Senator Francis Tolentino, the principal sponsor of the measure in the upper chamber, said the final version of the bill included Palawan and the Philippine Rise.

"Ni-reconcile natin 'yung sa internal waters at saka archipelagic waters which is legal and technical. Okay na ngayon," he said.

(We reconciled [the parts about] the internal waters and archipelagic waters...)

"For signing na rin 'yon ni Presidente kasi sinabi niya 'yon sa Singapore na kailangan i-approve," he added.

(It's for the President's signature because he said in Singapore it has to be approved.)

Tolentino explained anew the need for the passage of the measure, saying this will clarify the country's rights over its territory.

"Maliwanag 'yung karapatan natin kung saan 'yung boundary. Maliwanag 'yung may batas kung saan pwede maglayag, mangisda," he said.

(It is clear there where our boundary is, where we have [maritime] rights. The [proposed] law is clear as to where we can sail and fish.)

'Foundational law'

Maritime law expert and director of the UP-Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (UP-IMLOS) Atty. Jay Batongbacal on Wednesday said the Maritime Zones Bill, once signed, will be a foundational law.

“This is a foundational law. It sets out in very clear terms the Philippines’ adherence to UNCLOS and its implementation of our rights and obligations under UNCLOS. So that in itself is very important," he said. Batongbacal was referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“It also is a way for the Philippines to implement the South China Sea arbitration award which clearly established our entitlements in the maritime zones under UNCLOS. With that act, we are also now laying the groundwork for improving our law enforcement within these maritime zones," he added.

“For purposes of ensuring compliance with Philippine laws and regulations in its maritime zones and enabling enforcement even against foreign vessels in accordance with international law, This act will now set the stage for that," Batongbacal also said.

“With the Maritime Zones Act, then the parameters for the Philippines coming to any agreement with China or any other nation will have been already clarified... They cannot, for example, go beyond the parameters set forth by our laws At least on our side, it’s very clear that any agreement we enter into in the future will be in accordance with national law as well as international law," he added.

Several government agencies, including the  Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), earlier pushed for the passage of the measure.

The maritime zones bill is awaiting President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr..'s signature for it to become a law, while The Hague-based arbitration court already upheld in July 2016 the Philippines' EEZ in the West Philippine Sea which is 200 nautical miles off territorial sea.

The same court ruling also declared that the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Recto (Reed) Bank are located within the Philippines' EEZ as provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Further, the same Hague-based court decision also junked China’s expansive claim of having sovereignty over the entirety of the South China Sea, as well as outlawed China’s aggression within the Philippine EEZ and in Scarborough shoal which the Hague court deemed as a common fishing ground. —KG, GMA Integrated News