Senate Majority Leader Francis 鈥淭ol鈥� Tolentino speaks during one of the plenary sessions in the Senate. Tolentino stresses that the ratification of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act came as China rammed two Philippine Coast Guard vessels in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Senate on Monday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2492 and House Bill No. 7819 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, who is also the principal author and sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, said the ratification of the measure came at the time of China鈥檚 aggression.
鈥淧erhaps members of this chamber are already aware that two Philippine Coast Guard vessels were rammed, intentionally, with perhaps an intent to inflict harm and damage to the crew members. I鈥檓 speaking of BRP Bagacay, as well as BRP Cape Enga帽o,鈥� said Tolentino during the chamber鈥檚 plenary session.
鈥淸T]his just shows the lack of good faith, the lack of transparency of the People鈥檚 Republic of China in dealing with the Philippines in the continuing annual Bilateral Consultative Meeting,鈥� he added.
He then made the motion for the approval of the committee report on the disagreeing provisions of the bills.
鈥淭he highlights of the disagreeing provisions would perhaps relay to the convergence聽 of articles concerning the internal waters, as well as the archipelagic聽 waters. This was already agreed upon by both chambers that it will be fused as one,鈥� said Tolentino.
鈥淪o what the committee did was to just fuse both provisions, the internal waters as well as archipelagic waters provisions, and I think we have now a clearer bill with the forthcoming approval of the Archipelagic Sea Lanes law, this would be as clear as day,鈥� he added.
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The primary objective of the Maritime Zones bill is to declare the Philippines鈥� maritime zones in accordance with the standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
It also aims to clarify the geographical extent of the Philippine maritime domain, and at the same time, specify the legal powers that the Philippines may exercise over.