JAN.

24, 2015

NR # 3721

House panel commends NAMRIA for its contributions

to Philippine successes in maritime boundaries
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Rep. Al Francis Bichara (2 nd
District, Albay) has reported out for floor deliberation a resolution commending the
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) for its contributions in
securing the countrys ownership of the extended continental shelf in the Benham Rise
Region.
House Resolution 1557 introduced by Magdalo Partylist Reps. Francisco Ashley
Acedillo and Gary Alejano also lauded the key technical assistance provided by NAMRIA
to the Department of Foreign Affairs in the conduct of negotiations with neighboring
coastal states for the delimitation of overlapping maritime boundaries.
NAMRIAs technical contributions were instrumental to the success of the
negotiations that resulted in the recent settlement of the Philippine maritime boundaries
with the Republic of Indonesia, thus paving the way for stronger cooperation between the
two nations, and providing a model for the peaceful settlement of overlapping
international boundaries, the resolution said.
In the resolution, Acedillo said the Commission on the Limits of the Continental
Shelf (CLCS) of the United Nations approved on April 12, 2012 the Philippine Extended
Continental Shelf in the Benham Rise Region.
The CLCS approval added to the Philippine maritime jurisdiction 135,506 square
kilometers of seabed area, a perpetual legacy for the exclusive management, exploitation
and benefit of the Filipino nation, Acedillo said.
He attributed this accomplishment to the years of arduous efforts of NAMRIA
under the guidance of the then Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs and in
collaboration with the DFA; Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Department of Justice, and Department of Energy, University of the Philippines,
Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corporation, National Security Council,
Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard.
The NAMRIA conducted extensive bathymetric surveys to obtain the
hydrographic information that were used as key technical evidences in support of the
Philippine claim for ECS in the Benham Rise Region, Acedillo said.
Further, the NAMRIAs able and commendable leadership in the preparation of the
ECS submission and its defense before the CLCS was instrumental to securing the
Philippine ECS gains, Acedillo added.

Alejano said prior to the successes of securing the countrys ownership of the
extended continental shelf in the Benham Rise Region and forging a peaceful settlement
of overlapping international boundaries with the Republic of Indonesia, NAMRIA also
provided key technical assistance in the crafting and the passage of Republic Act 9522,
which defines the archipelagic baseline of the Philippines.
The NAMRIA also dutifully assisted coastal cities and municipalities in the
delineation of their municipal waters to allow these local government units to effectively
manage their marine resources, Alejano said.
Likewise, Alejano said, NAMRIA has established the web-based Philippine
Geoportal System to facilitate the production, sharing, integration and analysis of the
geospatial information of stakeholder agencies.
The Magdalo Partylist lawmakers said NAMRIA should be acknowledged for these
accomplishments. The House of Representatives should commend and congratulate the
NAMRIA for these multifarious achievements, which is a testament to its invaluable
service to the country, the solons said. (30) mrs