MANILA, Philippines – Ikinatuwa ni Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino ang paglagda sa dalawang landmark law na naggigiit sa territorial integrity at karapatan ng bansa sa lahat ng maritime zone nito, kabilang ang West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Ang “twin measures” – ang Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064) at ang Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (RA 12065) – ay nilagdaan bilang batas ni Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. kahapon ng umaga.
“These laws represent a brave step forward, and a victory for every Filipino,” sabi ni Tolentino, pangunahing may akda at isponsor ng RA 12064 at 12065.
“This is for every citizen who stands for a sovereign Philippines, where not a single inch of our territory is given up to any foreign power. This is for the future of our youth, where all the resources that fall within our jurisdiction are harnessed for our people’s enjoyment and benefit,” dagdag niya.
Ang Maritime Zones Act (RA 12064) ay tutukoy sa lawak at hanggahan ng ating maritime domain, na sinabi ni Tolentino na kikilalanin ng internasyonal na komunidad.
“The ‘West Philippine Sea’ will be more than just a term, but will be formally defined and enshrined for the first time in national legislation. Consider this as the ‘birth certificate’ of the WPS,” ani Tolentino.
Samantala, ang Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act ay nagtatalaga ng tatlong sea lane sa archipelagic waters ng bansa, gayundin ng air routes sa himppawid. Kabilang sa mga ASL na ito ang Dagat Celebes, Dagat Sibutu, at Balintang Channel.
“It is through these designated ASLs where all foreign vessels or aircraft will be allowed to pass or fly over,” paliwanag niya sa pagsasabi pang maiiwasan nito ang mga iligal na paglusob sa mga daanan ng dagat at kalawakan ng bansa.
Sinabi ni Tolentino na ang kambal na batas ay kinabibilangan ng mga pangunahing bahagi ng 2016 Hague Arbitral ruling na pumabor sa Pilipinas, alinsunod sa 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Ang mga ito aniya ay opisyal na isusumite sa United Nations (UN) para sa anotasyon nito, gayundin sa mga pangunahing multinational bodies, kabilang ang International Maritime Organization (IMO), at International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“By passing these laws, we seek to bolster international recognition for the Philippines’ assertion of its territorial and maritime rights, as well as the practice of making official references to the ‘West Philippine Sea’ in global maritime and aviation systems,” pahabol pa ng senador. RNT
