Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for the passage of legislation to establish Philippine maritime zones, claiming that doing so will reinforce and help enforce the country’s claim to the West Philippine Sea, as confirmed by a 2016 arbitral ruling.
Gatchalian made this point following a hearing held by the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones.
Once implemented, this move will reinforce the Philippines’ landmark arbitral victory over China in 2016. The ruling nullified Beijing’s so-called nine-dash line claim to the West Philippine Sea.
“Taking legal cognizance of the arbitral ruling is our best defense and the loudest message we can send around the world that we are asserting our sovereignty and our sovereign rights,” the senator said.
Gatchalian recently filed Senate Bill 2394, or The Philippine Maritime Zones Act, intended to clearly define the country’s maritime zones, harmonizing domestic laws on maritime territory with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“In effect, the 2016 arbitral ruling will be enshrined in our laws and this is going to be one of the strongest signals to the world that we are asserting sovereignty and asserting our exclusive economic zone and our sovereign rights in the region,” Gatchalian emphasized.
Declaring the country’s maritime zone limits, he claims, would mean bolstering the country’s geographical breadth of its maritime domain. He also emphasized that enacting local legislation will ensure the country’s compliance with UNCLOS, allowing it to enjoy the rights and benefits of the agreement.
To enhance the Philippines’ national security and protect its economic and environmental interests, Gatchalian has also recently filed another bill seeking the designation of the country’s archipelagic lanes.
