Ceremonial Signing of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act

Ceremonial Signing of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act
Ceremonial Hall, Malacañan Palace
November 8, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed two (2) priority bills that aim to improve the country’s capacity for governance and reinforce maritime policies for economic development and national security.

In a ceremony held at the Malacañan Palace, the first bill enacted into law was Republic Act (RA) No. 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which clearly defines the extent of the country’s maritime entitlements and fully declares their metes and bounds, in accordance with the Philippine Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Our people, especially our fisherfolk, should be able to pursue their livelihood free from uncertainty and harassment… By defining and asserting our maritime zones, we project to the international community that we are staunchly committed to nurturing, cultivating and protecting our maritime domain,” the President expressed in his keynote message.

The second bill signed was RA No. 12065 or the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which complements both the country’s maritime and aerial policies by establishing a route system that shall be utilized and accessed by foreign military vessels and foreign registered aircraft for passage, pursuant to the UNCLOS and the Convention on International Civil Aviation or the ‘Chicago Convention’.

“These sea lanes will offer continuous, expeditious, and unobstructed transit for vessels and air transports, while obliging them to comply with navigational regulations and procedures, as well as with the air rules of flight safety and protocols,” he said.

The Chief Executive further underscored that the passage of these bills demonstrated the country’s commitment as a responsible member of the international community and the advocacy to uphold the rules-based international order. All the same, this signaled the resolve to protect the Philippines’ maritime resources, preserve its rich biodiversity and ensure that its waters remain a source of life and livelihood for the Filipinos.

He likewise conveyed gratitude to the legislators for their steadfast commitment to safeguarding the interests of the Filipino people, including the assertion of their rights as an archipelagic state while fulfilling the Philippines’ obligations under international law.

“As part of the 14th Congress that passed the Philippines Archipelagic Baselines Law in 2009, this matter is close to my heart because these measures prove not only our commitment to ensuring the safety and prosperity of our maritime domain, but also our firm faith in our identity as a maritime nation. It is a spirit that transcends administrations. It is an intrinsic and undeniable part of the national — the Filipino character,” he added.

“It is my fervent hope that with the help of these two laws, we will continue to pursue and defend our maritime interests and navigate towards a brighter and stronger Bagong Pilipinas,” President Marcos Jr. concluded in his message.

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