FILE PHOTO: Sen. Francis Tolentino. Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — The reconciled and final version of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act was approved by a bicameral conference committee panel on Wednesday, according to Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino.
Tolentino, who also chairs the Senate’s special panel on maritime and admiralty zones, confirmed the matter to reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday.
“Approved na,” he said when asked about the status of the measure. (It’s already approved).
The primary objective of the Maritime Zones bill is to declare the Philippines’ 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.
READ: Senate ratifies bicam report on proposed PH Maritime Zones Act
“Yung salient points ay isinama natin yung sa Palawan [at] sinama natin yung sa Philippine Rise. Tapos ni-reconcile natin yung provision ng internal waters at saka archipelagic waters which is legal and technical,” he added.
(We included Palawan and the Philippine Rise in the salient points. We also reconciled the provision of internal waters and archipelagic waters, which is legal and technical.)
According to Tolentino, the measure is now up for signing of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., but he said it’s still uncertain whether the chief executive would be able to sign it before his third State of the Nation Address slated on July 22.
READ: Philippine Maritime Zones bill secures Senate OK on third reading
“Hindi ko masigurado, but it can be mentioned,” said Tolentino. (I can’t be certain, but it can be mentioned.)
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Earlier, Tolentino admitted to believing that the creation of a Maritime Zones Act had been “long overdue,” but is now “more immediate” considering the increasing cases of aggressive actions in Philippine waters.
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