MANILA, Philippines – Walang pagtutol na inaprubahan ng Senado nitong Martes ang Senate Bill No. 2665 o ang Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ASL) Act, isang landmark measure na may layunin na palakasin ang territorial integrity at national security ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagtatakda ng ASLs sa buong Pilipinas.
Sa kanyang manipestasyon, sinabi ni Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, na ang pagkaka-apruba sa panukala ay “a significant victory for our nation” dahil gagamitin ang ASL Act bilang instrumento sa pagtatanggol ng ating soberenya.
“The Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act is grounded in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly Articles 53 and 54, which grant archipelagic states like the Philippines the authority to designate specific sea lanes and air routes suitable for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign vessels and aircrafts,” ayon kay Tolentino.
“By defining our sea lanes, we are asserting our rights as an archipelagic state while also fulfilling our obligations under international law,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi pa ni Tolentino na minadali ang pagsasabatas ng ASL kasama ang Maritime Zones Act, sa gitna ng tumitindi, dumadalas at umiinit na agresibong ugali ng China sa West Philippine Sea.
“While before, their aggression was only limited within the waters at the West Philippine Sea, just recently, on August 8, two aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force performed dangerous maneuvers and dropped flares near a Philippine Air Force aircraft conducting a maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc,” aniya.
“SBN 2665 defines archipelagic sea lanes as “designated sea lanes in the archipelagic waters and air routes thereabove through which foreign vessels may exercise the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage,” ayon sa panukala.
Itinakda rin sa panukala ang pagkahulugan ng right of innocent passage bilang “continuous and expeditious passage of foreign vessels through the territorial sea that is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, or security of the Philippines.”
Umaasa ang senador na magkakaroon ng benepisyong pang-ekonomiya ang pamamahala ng ating ASL. Ernie Reyes
