Arcle 1 – Naonal Territory Naonal Territory comprises: The Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein; All other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdicon; The terrestrial, fluvial, and aerial domains including the following: a. Territorial sea (marginal sea/marginal belt/marine belt) – the part of the sea extending 12 naucal miles (19 kms.) from the low-watermark b. Seabed (sea floor/sea boom) – This refers to the land that holds the sea, lying beyond the seashore, including mineral and natural resources c. Subsoil – this refers to everything beneath the surface soil and the seabed, including mineral and natural resources d. Insular shelves (connental shelves) – submerged porons of a connent or offshore island, which slope gently seaward from the low waterline to a point where a substanal break in grade occurs, at which point the boom slopes seaward at a considerable increase in slope unl the great ocean depths are reached e. other submarine areas – all areas under the territorial sea, i.e. seamount, trough, trench, basin, deep, bank, shoal, reef. What is an archipelago? An archipelago is a sea or a part of a sea studded with islands, oſten synonymous with island groups, or a large group of islands in an extensive body of water such as a sea. The term is derived from the Greek word pelagos, which means “sea”. The Archipelagic Doctrine and the UN Convenon of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) The archipelagic doctrine states that an archipelago shall be regarded as a single unit, so that the waters around, between, and connecng the islands of the archipelago, irrespecve of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the state, subject to its exclusive sovereignty. To adapt the territorial sea rule (12 naucal mile rule) to archipelagos such as the Philippines would create a fatal impact among its integrity, as it would result to the dismemberment of several islands. Other areas of waters that are intended by the Divine Providence for the Filipinos will become open for other naons to tap its resources. Furthermore, warships of unfriendly naons would enter these waters and stay there with perfect, legal right to do so. The UN Convenon of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has recognized the archipelagic doctrine, and has since became a part of public internaonal law. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Presidenal Decree No. 1599 (signed June 22, 1978) establishes an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippine extending to a distance of 200 naucal miles beyond and from the baselines from which the territorial sea is measured. The EEZ does not mean sovereign ownership, but only sovereign rights to explore and exploit the same. Years later, the UNCLOS asked all involved countries to map out their EEZ from 1999 to 2009. References: Textbook on the Philippine Constuon. De Leon and De Leon, Jr. 2011. Rex Book Store. The Constuon of the Republic of the Philippines Explained. Nolledo and Nolledo. 2009. Naonal Book Store.