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The Senate must take up and approve the bill that seeks to define the country’s sea lanes in order to deter intrusion of Chinese ships and other foreign vessels and aircraft in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez had this to say Friday, June 14, referring to his own measure, House Bill (HB) No. 9034 . 

House Bill (HB) No. 9034 is titled, “An Act establishing the archipelagic sea lanes in the Philippine archipelagic waters, prescribing the rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic se lanes passage. 

“We should take all measures to protect our nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty," said the Mindanao solon, who has been a consistent critic of Chinese harassment and bullying of Filipino fishermen and troops in the WPS. 

The House of Representatives had already approved the measure on third and final reading on Dec. 12, 2023. The lower chamber transmitted it to the Senate the following day. 

Rodriguez said the recent sighting of Chinese warships in the Basilan Strait should prompt the Senate to pass HB No. 9034 as soon as Congress starts its third and last regular session on July 22. 

He said the enactment of the bill would strengthen enforcement by the military and other authorities of sovereign rights within its territory. 

“As usual, we should expect adverse reactions from the Chinese, which we should ignore. Let’s think only of our national interest,” he added. 

The bill sets the coordinates designating the sea lanes and air routes for the continuous and expeditious sailing or flight of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right of innocent passage. 

The vessels or planes shall not deviate more than 25 nautical miles from the designated passage routes. They shall not make any activity other than transiting expeditiously. They shall not make any threat against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the Philippines. 

Transiting ships and planes shall be prohibited from conducting any oceanography or hydrographic survey or research activity unless permitted by the Philippine government. 

The proposed law authorizes the President to issue rules and regulations relating to the management and security of the country’s archipelagic and adjacent waters. 

The bill imposes the penalty of imprisonment for at least six months and one day to two years and two months, or a fine of $1.2 million, or both upon the discretion of the court, on the ship master or captain of the plane or owner or operators of the vessel or plane. 

If the owner is a corporation or a business entity, the penalty shall be imposed on its president.