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The Senate approved Senate Bill 2665, also known as the Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ASL) bill, on August 13, in a decisive move to reinforce the Philippines' territorial integrity and national security.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine Ship Spotters' Society.

The bill, which received unanimous support with a 22-to-nil vote, outlined the establishment of designated sea lanes across the country.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, the principal author and sponsor of the bill, hailed its approval as a significant affirmation of 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 aircraft," Tolentino said.

Tolentino emphasized that the ASL act will allow the Philippines to assert its rights as an archipelagic state while fulfilling its international obligations.

"By defining our sea lanes, we are asserting our rights as an archipelagic state while also fulfilling our obligations under international law," he added.

The need for the measure, along with the Maritime Zones Act, has been pushed by increasing aggressive actions by China in the West Philippine Sea.

Tolentino noted a recent incident on August 8, where two aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force conducted dangerous manoeuvres and dropped flares near a Philippine Air Force aircraft during a maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc.

The ASL bill defined archipelagic sea lanes as designated routes in the archipelagic waters and air routes above them, allowing foreign vessels the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage.

It also clarifies the "right of innocent passage," allowing for the continuous and expeditious passage of foreign vessels through the territorial sea without compromising the Philippines' peace, good order, or security.

“With the passage of this measure, Congress has moved a step closer in putting our archipelagic house in order,” Tolentino said.