Chiz: Senate seeks simultaneous signing of Maritime Zones, Sea Lanes bills

The Senate is seeking the simultaneous signing of the Philippine Maritime Zones Bill and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Bill, Senate President Francis Escudero said.

"Ang kasunduan kasi noong nag-hearing diyan ay sabay nang ipapasa ‘yan at sabay nang isusumite sa pagpirma ng Pangulo, kung saka-sakali. Kaya hinihintay nung Maritime Bill 'yung Sea Lanes bill na matapos sa [bicameral conference]," Escudero said in a phone interview.

(The agreement back then during the hearing was to pass it concurrently and submit it to the President for signing, if possible. That's why the Maritime Bill is waiting for the Sea Lanes bill to be finalized in the bicameral conference.)

Last August 19, the Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee version of the Philippine Maritime Zones Bill, while the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes was up for the bicameral conference committee's discussion.

In June, the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) included the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act as well as its complementary measure, the proposed Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act in its top priority legislative bills. 

These bills seek to strengthen Philippine sovereignty over its archipelagic waters and maritime resources.

Apart from these two measures, the LEDAC also identified the proposed Blue Economy Act among its 28 priority bills. This measure promotes stewardship and sustainable development of the country's coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

The Senate recently approved the proposed Blue Economy Act on third and final reading.

In a recent interview, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized the need to become "alert" in the West Philippine Sea, especially amid China's reclamation in disputed waters which negatively affects the biosystem.

"For example, yung pagkukuha ng corals, yung paggagawa ng mga islands, nakakasira yan doon sa natural state ng West Philippine Sea area. So kailangan maging alisto tayo. At kung mangyayari yan, then we have to also try our best to either stop it or to file a diplomatic protest," he said.

According to Gatchalian, the Philippines will not be the only country affected by these activities, but also the other states as the WPS is a "very strategic" area.

"Isang dahilan kung bakit ang Amerika ay interested in that area. Kasi alam nila na pag yan ay ma-kontrol ng China, sila rin ang mahihirapan gumamit ng ruta sa West Philippine Sea," he added.

(One reason America is interested in that area is that they know if China gains control of it, they will have a hard time using the route in the West Philippine Sea.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News