RP Baseline Law and National Security

Senator Rodolfo G Biazon proposed to amend the baselines of the Philippine archipelago to progress towards harmonizing the interpretation and implementation of our Constitutional provisions on national territory and the existing laws - Republic Act. No. 3046 as amended by Republic Act No. 5446, with the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to reiterate our sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group.

"Defining baselines will provide reference points which will be used as the basis for a definition of the extent of our inland waters, territorial seas, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones, continental shelf and extended continental shelf."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security further explained that the definition of our baselines will clarify with certainty the exact areas of jurisdictions for the Armed Forces of the Philippines specifically the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force to defend, and the Philippine Coast Guard and other such agencies charged with the protection and enforcement of customs, immigration and sanitary laws and the protection of our economic interests such as fishing and mining.

"Senate Bill No. 2215 also recommends that the Kalayaan Island Group as it is referred to in PD 1596 which created it as a municipality of Palawan and part of the Philippine territory, be treated " Regime of Islands" to satisfy Article 121 of the UNCLOS."

Biazon concluded, "As signatories of the UNCLOS, it is our duty to comply with our international obligation as our Constitution provides that international law forms part of the law of the land. Amending our existing base line law is not only a response to that commitment, more importantly it moves towards determining with finality which should be recognized as belonging to our national territory."