Senator Loren Legarda said she is confident that the recently signed Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act will provide a framework for balancing global maritime trade vis-à-vis the protection of the country’s marine environment.
Legarda said these two laws will work in tandem to reinforce the country’s maritime sovereignty and security.
“I am elated that the synergy of these two laws will provide a framework for balancing global maritime trade with the protection of our marine environment,” Legarda said.
“These laws will work hand-in-hand to secure our seas, prevent environmental degradation, and foster regional stability, all while respecting international conventions like UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Seas) and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” she said.
Both laws would also strengthen the Philippines' sovereignty and environmental protections, she stressed.
“I thank President Marcos for signing these laws. The Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act will not only safeguard the integrity of our national territory but also strengthen our legal and environmental frameworks for managing and protecting our seas,” she said.
Legarda authored and co-sponsored the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, while also co-authoring and co-sponsoring the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
“I thank President Marcos for signing these laws. The Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act will not only safeguard the integrity of our national territory but also strengthen our legal and environmental frameworks for managing and protecting our seas,"
Last Friday, November 8, the President signed into law the Philippine Maritime Zones Act or Republic Act No. 12064 and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act or Republic Act 12065.
Marcos said the new laws signifies the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and prosperity of Philippine maritime domain.
The President’s pronouncement, however, angered China anew citing that the two new laws delimited and declared Beijing’s “baselines” of the territorial sea adjacent to the Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippine Maritime Zones Act (PMZA) primarily delineates the country’s maritime zones—internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf.
By reinforcing the country’s maritime boundaries, Legarda said this enables the country to manage its resources and respond to regional maritime disputes with a clear, unified voice.
On the other hand, the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (ASL Act) designates specific sea lanes for the expeditious and continuous passage of foreign vessels through Philippine waters.
The law allows for the regulation of foreign ships’ passage, preventing risks such as maritime pollution, which threatens the integrity of our marine ecosystems.
"This is a watershed moment in ensuring that the Philippines upholds its commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly in the face of climate change and increasing industrial activities in our seas,” she said.