MANILA, Philippines – Pinuri ng mga senador ang pagpirma bilang batas para sa Philippine Maritime Zones Act at Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
Sa mensahe, aminado si Senador Jinggoy Estrada na ang House Bill No. 7824 — o hakbang na naglalayong lumikha ng center for West Philippine Sea studies — ay magandang isama sa mga bagong pirmang batas.
“I think it is essential to establish a government office that is exclusively devoted to addressing our national interests in the West Philippine Sea.”
“A proposed Center for West Philippine Sea Studies can aid in the formulation of strategies to defend our territorial claims and sovereign rights, firmly grounded in historical data, existing laws, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” dagdag ni Estrada.
Sa hiwalay na pahayag, sinabi ni Senador Risa Hontiveros na nararapat lamang pirmahan ng Pangulo ang Philippine Maritime Zones Act at Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act into law.
“These new laws help secure what is ours — our waters, our rich marine life — today and for future generations,” ani Hontiveros.
Pabor din si Hontiveros sa paglikha ng Center for West Philippine Studies, na makapag-aambag sa mga research, kaalaman at impormasyon kaugnay sa isyu.
“The more that we are able to learn about and study the West Philippine Sea, the more that we will be able to know how best to protect and defend it,” ayon pa sa senador.
Samantala, nabahala ang Ministry of Foreign Affairs ng China sa dalawang bagong pirmang batas at agad na ipinatawag ang ambassador ng Pilipinas sa China “to make serious protests.” RNT/JGC
