Senate OKs Archipelagic Sea Lanes bill on final reading

The Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the proposed Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law, with a vote of 22-0-0.

Senator Francis Tolentino, principal sponsor of the bill, said Senate Bill 2665 was a landmark measure that strengthened the country's territorial  integrity and national security.

“Designating ASLs will solidify the country's maritime domain and prevent arbitrary passage in the Philippine archipelago by foreign vessels and aircraft,” Tolentino said.

“We will be able to better monitor the movement of  foreign vessels and aircraft and ask them to leave should they pose a threat to our peace and order, and national security,” he added.

Under SB 2665, ASLs are defined as “designated sea lanes in the archipelagic  waters and air routes thereabove through which foreign vessels may  exercise the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage.”

It  likewise defines the “right of innocent passage,” as the “continuous and expeditious passage of foreign vessels through the territorial sea that is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, or security of the  Philippines.”

According to Tolentino, the designation of ASLs  is a discretion that the Philippines, as an archipelago and a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),  may exercise under Article 53 of the international agreement. — DVM, GMA Integrated News