MANILA: Senators unanimously approved on Tuesday Senate Bill No. 2665 or the Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ASL) Act, a landmark measure that aims to strengthen the country’s territorial integrity and national security by designating ASLs throughout the country.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, in his manifestation, said the approval of the measure is a “a significant victory for our nation” as the ASL Act is an instrument in affirming the Philippine sovereignty.
“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,” Tolentino said.
“By defining our sea lanes, we are asserting our rights as an archipelagic state while also fulfilling our obligations under international law,” he added.
Tolentino said pas
sing the measure, together with the Maritime Zones Act, is made more urgent in view of the frequency and severity of the aggressive behaviors of China in the 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,’ he said.
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.’
The measure also defines the right of innocent passage as the ‘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.’
Tolentino expressed optimism that the country could derive economic benefits in
managing its ASLs.
Source: Philippines News Agency