Abalos lauds PBBM’s signing of PH Maritime Zones, Archipelagic Sea Lanes laws
SENATORIAL aspirant and former Secretary “Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signing of two historic and landmark measures—the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
These laws, Abalos stressed, reinforce the Philippines’ sovereignty over its maritime zones and archipelagic waters.
Abalos also applauded Congress under the leadership of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero for championing these legislative measures, saying these laws will enable the government to effectively designate the country’s archipelagic sea lanes and corresponding air routes above them,” Abalos, a lawyer, said.
“Through these laws, the government will be able to monitor the movement of foreign vessels and aircraft,” Abalos, a lawyer, added, explaining that the law, specifically the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Acr establishes a system of archipelagic sea lanes and air routes, through which foreign vessels and aircraft shall exercise the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage.
The enactment of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act are critical, particularly in the light of repeated incidents where Chinese vessels disrespected our territorial boundaries, according to Abalos.
He cited past incidents such as in March when Chinese fishing boats were spotted within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine Maritime Zones Act or Republic Act No. 12064 clarifies the country’s jurisdiction over its contiguous zone and EEZ, further delineating areas up to 24 nautical miles from the baselines and ensuring the protection of resources within this area. Meanwhile, the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act ensures the protection of the country’s sovereignty and maritime domain by designating the routes and areas 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.
“These new laws will clearly define and strengthen our jurisdiction and our sovereign rights over our territorial water and the airspace over it ,” Abalos stressed.
Abalos had earlier condemned a recent incident involving a Chinese maritime militia vessel, which, on October 11, attempted to block the path of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship BRP Datu Cabaylo near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
Abalos, who is running for senator under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, also rallied Filipinos to stand united behind President Marcos’ firm stance on the West Philippine Sea issue.
“Let’s support our President in his efforts for China to respect us as a nation and the 2016 tribunal ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the West Philippine Sea,” he concluded.
