A landmark measure among the many bills that got through swiftly at the House of Representatives last Monday was House Bill (HB) 7819. With no negative vote cast, and zero abstention, 284 members of the Lower House of the 19th Congress voted for HB 7819’s approval on third and final reading. Called for short as the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the freshly approved legislation defines the breadth and depth of the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as defined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
After the House approval, it will be transmitted to the Senate. The Senators could either totally adopt the House version, or they will come up with their own counterpart bill and consolidate it through a bicameral conference committee.
The first regular sessions of the 19th Congress will adjourn sine die next week. So more likely than not, HB 7819 will join other House-approved bills that will languish in the legislative mills at the Senate.
Endorsed for approval by the House committee on foreign affairs chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas, HB 7819 seeks to declare the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines. It was actually a consolidation of four similar House Bills separately introduced by Congressmen Rufus Rodriguez, Arenas, Jose Francisco Benitez, and Francisco Ortega.
As defined in HB 7819, “the maritime zones of the Philippines comprise the internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, the EEZ and continental shelf. All territories of the Philippines shall generate their respective maritime zones in accordance with international law.”
Section 10 of HB 7819 specified “adherence to existing laws,” as follow: “Other rights of the Philippines relative to its maritime zones and entitlements shall be exercised in accordance with the UNCLOS; the awards rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal in Permanent Court of Arbiration (PCA) Case No. 2013-19, in the matter of the South China Sea Arbitration between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China, handed down on July 12,2016 at The Hague, Netherlands, and other laws and regulations on maritime zones and entitlements of the Philippines and international law.”
HB 7819 provided also “delimitations” in the succeeding Section 11 stating: “Where the maritime zones defined in this Act overlap with the maritime zones of a neighboring State, the common boundaries shall be determined by agreement with the State in accordance with the relevant principles of delimitation under international law, including the UNCLOS.”
The proposed new law did not stir much debate in our Congress. Naturally, that is expected of our lawmakers who have taken oath to protect and serve our people and our country’s national interest.
A popular adage among sailors and seamen tells about the calm before the storm.
Surely, the approval of HB 7819 did not escape notice and close monitoring of our co-claimants over the West Philippine Sea overlapping maritime territorial disputes over the South China Sea. It is not just China but even with our neighbors and fellow member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam have occupied some of the islets, islands, reefs, shoals, atolls, and rocks around South China Sea.
We do not wish the proposed new Philippine law to stir new tempests among the South China Sea claimants. But we are comforted by the latest demonstration of the much improvements in the self-defense capability of our Philippine Navy in the protection of our maritime borders.
Currently headed by Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., as the flag-officer-in command (FOIC) of the 25,000-strong men and women, the Philippine Navy proudly presented newly procured naval assets and the acquisitions of the latest state-of-the-art ammunitions. This was during the program capping the 125th founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy held last week at their headquarters in Roxas Boulevard.
As “Guardians of the Sea” theme for this year’s anniversary, the Navy showed off to their Commander-in-chief, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) their greater mobility strength and firepower that were funded through the P10-billion modernization program. On the eve of their anniversary, Adaci announced the arrival of two corvette fast crafts procured by the Navy under foreign military sales with the US.
Other than the US, the Philippine Navy has long been preparing for its submarine acquisition soon in the near future. This we learned from Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosia Ezpeleta and Philippine Fleet Deputy Commander, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad. According to Ezpeleta, a “core group” of Navy officers and men have acquired already the skills needed to operate and run a submarine. “We capacitate our people and send them abroad for training,” Ezpeleta cited.
The French government has a standing offer to sell one of its high-performance submarines to the Philippine Navy. French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz who is soon ending her tour of duty here in the Philippines disclosed the potential submarine deal was raised during her recent meeting with PBBM.
“We have received offers from different countries not only to acquire submarines but also to build them here in the Philippines,” PBBM confirmed to reporters at the end of the Navy anniversary rites. The President, however, pointed to huge resources needed to acquire a submarine. But for now, the President appeared pleased to see the anti-submarine capabilities of the Philippine Navy.
“Then hopefully, when the time comes and the conditions are agreeable then we might be able to acquire those submarines,” the President added.
For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, a submarine-ready Philippine Navy needs not just laws passed by Congress. It can only do so much maritime patrol activities with naval assets at its disposal.