Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has joined four other senators who filed a bill establishing the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. 

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (Photo courtesy of O/S Win Gatchalian)

Gatchalian, in filing Senate Bill No. 2395, sought the passage of the measure amid the heightened tensions between the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at the West Philippine Sea. 

“It is critical and imperative that we pass legislation that would designate the country’s archipelagic sea lanes to protect the country’s national security, and economic and environmental interests, particularly in the West Philippine Sea,” Gatchalian said.

“Kailangan nating siguruhin na mapoprotektahan ang seguridad at soberanya ng bansa kabilang ang kapakanan ng mga kababayan nating mangingisda na pumapalaot sa ating karagatan sa (We need to ensure that we can protect our national security and sovereignty including the welfare of our fellowmen and fishermen who sail our) West Philippine Sea,” he added.

The senator pointed out there are already existing laws that aligned the country’s archipelagic baseline system with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

At the same time, SB No. 2395 also seeks to protect the country’s ecological integrity by prohibiting fishing, marine bioprospecting, exploitation of marine resources, unauthorized research and survey statistics, and dumping of wastes and other noxious substances.

Once a law, foreign ships or aircraft would be prohibited from conducting unauthorized research and survey activities as well as fishing, marine bioprospecting, loading, and unloading of persons, goods, or currency.

According to Gatchalian, the bill supports the UNCLOS' policy which recognizes the sovereignty of the archipelagic states over its archipelagic waters, the air space above them, the seabed and subsoil below them, and the resources contained therein. 

The UNCLOS also affords all ships and aircraft archipelagic sea lanes which may be designated by the archipelagic state.

Other senators who filed a similar bill on the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act are Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Senators Francis Tolentino, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada. 

All measures are now referred to the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime Admiralty Zones, which is now chaired by Tolentino.

Members of the newly created committee are Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Christopher “Bong” Go, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Risa Hontiveros.