7th Anniversary of the Arbitral Tribunal Ruling 

MESSAGE OF SEN. LOREN LEGARDA
Forum in Commemoration of the
7th Anniversary of the Arbitral Tribunal Ruling,
Waypoints Project and The University of the Philippines
Institute for Maritime and Law of Sea
27 July 2023
Ensuring our country’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. This is enshrined in our Constitution, serving as the bedrock upon which we preserve and uphold the very essence of our forefathers’ legacy.
Long embroiled in territorial disputes with neighboring countries over the South China Sea, our country once again stands at a crucial point where it is expected to assert our rightful claims in the maritime domain. In 2016, an international tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Annex VII ruled in our favor, effectively invalidating China’s expansive claims in the region. However, despite this significant victory, we continue to struggle to fully assert our rights and enforce the ruling.
Consider the magnitude of what is on the line here. Justice Antonio Carpio revealed that at stake in the West Philippine Sea is an overwhelming expanse of 531,000 square kilometers, surpassing the entirety of our country’s land area, which measures 300,000 square kilometers. It includes up to 80 percent of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which spans over 381,000 square kilometers; and, 100 percent of our potential extended continental shelf (ECS), estimated to be at least 150,000 square kilometers of maritime space.
Furthermore, it is important to note that the Philippines is a maritime and archipelagic nation. 832 municipalities out of 1,500 and 57 cities out of 117 are coastal, and 64 provinces out of 79 have coastal domains. The data shows that Philippine waters have always played an important role in the lives of Filipinos and have helped shape Filipino identity and culture.
Alongside protecting our own, it is equally important to ensure legal stability in connection with maritime zones. We must unequivocally demarcate our maritime boundaries and we must do this by law. As Peter Drucker famously said, “We cannot manage what we cannot quantify.” In line with this principle, I filed Senate Bill No. 1649, which is known as the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, to create a comprehensive legal structure that conforms to the UNCLOS. This will reflect the essence of a rules-based system for maritime governance.
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