Senate ratifies proposed Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act

The Senate on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report containing the final version of the proposed Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino sponsored the report the same day it was approved by the bicameral panel.

Tolentino said the measure would help ensure the country's maritime domain, and strengthen territorial integrity and national security.

According to the senator, the measure implements the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by designating the country's archipelagic sea lanes, and governing archipelagic sea lanes passage by foreign vessels and aircraft.

Once signed into law, Tolentino said it will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which will notify other countries of the new legislation.

The bills on Archipelagic Sea Lanes and Philippine Maritime Zones, Tolentino said, are expected to be submitted to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. next week for its approval or veto.

Under the proposed law, the President, with the assistance of competent government agencies, shall establish and designate the system of archipelagic sea lanes and air routes.

• Section 7 of the measure provides that the system of archipelagic sea lanes of the Philippine and the air routes shall be defined by connecting the coordinates of the following axis lines:
• Philippine Sea-Balintang Channel-West Philippine Sea
• Celebes Sea-Sibutu Passage-Sulu Sea-Cuyo East Pass-Mindoro Strait-West Philippine Sea
• Celebes Sea-Basilan Strait-Sulu Sea-Nasubata Channel-Balabac Strait-West Philippine Sea

Last August, the Senate approved on third and final reading the proposed Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law, with a vote of 22-0-0. — VDV, GMA Integrated News