“Isang tagumpay para sa soberanya ng Pilipinas!”
The submission of the ‘Talampas ng Pilipinas’ chart to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a victory for Philippine sovereignty, according to Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino.
Tolentino emphasized that the submission is a crucial step in securing international support for the Philippines’ maritime rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Ito’y mahalagang hakbang para tiyakin ang ating eksklusibong karapatan sa Talampas ng Pilipinas at mga yamang nakapaloob dito,” (This is a significant move to ensure our exclusive rights over the Talampas ng Pilipinas and the resources within it,) he said.
Under Section 8 of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law (Republic Act 10264), authored by Tolentino, the definition and boundaries of the Talampas ng Pilipinas are formally established.
Tolentino was also the one who renamed the region from its former name, Benham Rise, to its current title.
Known as the “Tolentino Law,” the legislation designates the resource-rich Talampas ng Pilipinas as part of the country’s extended continental shelf, granting the Philippines exclusive rights to explore and extract minerals, petroleum, and other resources from the seabed and subsoil.
It also affirms the country’s authority to build artificial islands, installations, and structures on the seabed, as well as conduct marine scientific research, drilling, and tunneling under UNCLOS guidelines.
““Ang Talampas ng Pilipinas ang ating pamana sa ating mga kabataan at susunod na salinlahi. Sinisiguro nito ang isang magandang bukas para sa ating bansa,” (The Talampas ng Pilipinas is our legacy for future generations, ensuring a prosperous future for our nation,) said Tolentino, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones.
Tolentino expressed gratitude to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Mission to the UN, NAMRIA – Hydrography Branch, and other key contributors to the initiative.
The ISA is an intergovernmental organization overseeing all mineral-related activities in international seabed areas under the 1982 UNCLOS.