Gov’t to release official map marking Spratlys, Scarborough

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday signed two landmark laws—the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act—designed to strengthen maritime claims and sovereignty by clearly delineating the maximum extent of the country’s territorial waters.

“These two laws underscore the importance of our maritime and archipelagic identity. They align our domestic laws with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), clearly defining the extent of our maritime entitlements and securing the rights of our people,” Mr. Marcos said.

“Our people, especially our fisherfolk, should be able to pursue their livelihood free from uncertainty and harassment. We must be able to harness mineral and energy resources in our seabed,” he added.

The government will soon release a new official map that marks areas over which the country has sovereignty and sovereign rights, including the West Philippine Sea with specific coordinates and designations, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority said after the signing of the two new laws.

NAMRIA administrator Peter Tiangco said the agency is just waiting for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new law.

“We already have the maps prepared. We are just waiting for the IRR to make modifications according to what’s needed. Once the IRR is issued, NAMRIA can move swiftly to release the map,” he said.

“Our maps will have the legal basis supported by existing laws,” Tiangco added, implicitly referring to China’s recent maps with its nine-dash-line over almost the entire South China Sea – a claim that was already rejected by the UN arbitral court in 2016.

China opposed the two newly-signed laws, claiming these “illegal incorporated” Bajo de Masinloc and the Kalayaan Island Group as part of the Philippines’ maritime zones.

China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “The law seriously violates the Declaration of the Conduct of All Parties in the South China Sea, which will lead to the complexity of the situation in the South China Sea. If the Philippines takes any infringement and provocative action in the South China Sea in accordance with the law, China will resolutely respond.”

Mao urged the Philippines to “stop taking any unilateral actions that may escalate disputes and complicate the situation, and to effectively maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, for her part, upheld Washington’s “unequivocal” support to the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal decision.

“The Philippines and the United States are not alone – many nations have expressed support for the 2016 ruling, which is final and legally binding on both the Philippines and the PRC (China)…Upholding international law in the South China Sea — in addition to being the right thing to do from a legal standpoint—supports global prosperity,” Carlson said.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the two new laws “enhance our efforts to protect our sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and to preserve and exploit the resources in these waters for the benefit of our people.”

He said based on surveys and studies, the West Philippine Sea “holds vast marine and oil and gas resources that we should preserve for the future generation of Filipinos.”

“It is thus not surprising that our ‘frenemy’ and neighbor continues to intrude into our waters and even undertakes periodic maritime surveys in this area,” he said.

“These new laws mark a historic moment in our efforts to secure and defend our maritime domain. By establishing clear boundaries and designating specific sea lanes, we strengthen our position under international law, safeguard our natural resources, and enhance our security in the West Philippine Sea and beyond,” he added.

The Philippine Maritime Zones Act or RA No. 12064 defines the maximum extent of the territorial sea (12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24 nautical miles), EEZ (200 nautical miles), and continental shelf (beyond 200 nautical miles).

“The Philippines reaffirms its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in our waters. By defining and asserting our maritime zones, we project to the international community that we are staunchly committed to nurturing, cultivating, and protecting our maritime domain,” Mr. Marcos said.

On the other hand, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act or RA No. 12065 designates the sea lanes and air routes suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over the country’s archipelagic water and the adjacent territorial sea.

“These sea lanes will offer continuous, expeditious, and unobstructed transit for vessels and air transport while obliging them to comply with navigational regulations and procedures, as well as with the air rules of flight safety and protocols,” Mr. Marcos said.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos signs 2 crucial laws on navigating West Philippine Sea.”