The House committee on foreign affairs yesterday approved a substitute bill defining maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Philippines.
The proposed “Philippine Maritime Zones Act,” a substitute to House Bills 2467, 3895, and 6109, seeks to harmonize Philippine legislation with international laws, such as the 1982 United National Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
It seeks to clarify the nature and status of waters connecting the various islands of the Philippines and its adjacent seas.
The panel, chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, passed the measure, which was already approved on third and final reading in the 18th Congress, using Section 48 of the House Rules which allows committees to expedite the approval of measures approved in the previous Congress but were not adopted by the Senate.
The committee also adopted House Resolution No. 691, urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to establish a consular office in the second legislative district of the province of Zambales.
It would also serve as a substitute measure to House Bills No. 6494 and 6554, establishing a DFA consular office in the Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay and in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.
