Senate pushes West PH maritime map bill

SENATE President Vicente Sotto III yesterday expressed his appreciation to the Senate committees on foreign affairs and national defense for taking action on his proposal to create a map that would identify the country’s maritime zones.

Sotto said he has been informed by Sen. Koko Pimentel, chairman of the Senate foreign affairs panel, and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense panel, that they have already set a schedule to tackle Senate Bill No. 2289, which the Senate leader filed way back in June this year.

“I am truly grateful to Sen. Pimentel and Sen. Lacson for recognizing the importance of my proposed measure, especially amid the continued harassments that China has been doing to our naval ships patrolling the West Philippine Sea,” Sotto said.

SB 2289 proposes the creation of a maritime zone map similar to China’s nine-dash-line which it has been using in misrepresenting its claims in the West Philippine Sea and other areas in the South China Sea.

Sotto said protecting the country’s sovereign rights will be easier if the country comes up with its own map which will define the maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction.

At the same time, Sotto said the Philippine government should explore all available options, even seek out the assistance of foreign allies, to protect the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

Sotto said: “We should not, we cannot, give up what is ours without exhausting every available option. Huwag nating bitiwan ang laban kontra China sa usapin ng ating sovereign rights sa West Philippine Sea. Atin ito, panindigan natin ito.”

If necessary, the Senate President said the Philippines can call out its foreign allies to protect and defend its maritime territories.

“We have to insist on our maritime zones,” he stressed, adding that the Philippine government can initiate a review of its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States to browbeat China.

“Sa oras na malaman ng China na nire-review natin ang MDT at EDCA with the US, sigurado akong maiisip nila na ayaw nila tayong makalaban sa isyung ito. Kung ako sila, maghi-hinay hinay muna ako. Kung ipilit nilang angkinin itong Highway 54 ng trade sa dagat, ito kasi ang pinaka-international trading area, pwede nating iinvoke itong MDT at EDCA,” Sotto said.

He likewise reiterated his proposal that the government tap the vast maritime treasures in the West Philippine Sea. “Matagal na naming sinasabi na dapat magkaroon tayo ng joint exploration, joint oil exploration doon sa West Philippine Sea. Pwedeng China ang ka-partner, pwedeng kung sino pa. Basta ang mahalaga ay mapakinabangan natin ang likas na yaman na mayroon sa karagatan,” Sotto said.