DELINEATION OF THE PHILIPPINE Department of Energy, Philippines CONTINENTAL SHELF Jason Jude Villegas Department of Energy, Philippines

OUTLINE INTRODUCTION II. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE III. DATA REQUIREMENTS IV. CONSTRAINTS V. CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION -enforcement of UNCLOS on 16 November 1994 gave the Philippines ten years to gather evidence and establish the scientific basis of delineating the Philippine Continental Shelf scientific evidence require proper documentation -prohibitively expensive to run surveys -committees are formed to address UNCLOS issues -slow progress due to internal political and economic constraints

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Government Structure Related to Continental Shelf Issues Cabinet Committee on Maritime and Ocean Affairs (CABCOM-MOA) -composed of Department Secretaries / Undersecretaries of almost all of the major Departments of the government bureaucracy -main objective was to formulate policies and strategies regarding maritime and ocean concerns in agreement with the provisions of UNCLOS

CABCOM was supported by a Technical Committee on Maritime and Ocean Affairs (TechCom-MOA) -responsible for the research and technical work -assist legislators in drafting bills/laws relevant to maritime and ocean affairs Both Committees were abolished in 2001 -all functions were transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) -expanded the functions and responsibilities of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Center (MOAC) of the DFA

Among the expanded function of DFA-MOAC is to -undertake research,data gathering, information acquisition, and preparation for any negotiation or other modes of dispute settlement with other countries in matters concerning the delineation/delimitation of territorial and maritime boundaries, fisheries, energy and mineral exploration, and exploitation in the ocean, or other agreements relating to the conservation, exploration, exploitation, protection, development, and/ or management of marine resources

Studies for the Delineation of the Outer Limits of the Philippine Continental Shelf (PCS) -a project organized by former TechCom-MOA members to: Facilitate the delineation, documentation and legitimi- zation of the PCS. 2. Develop a core group of experts. 3. Put together the legal arguments and technical evidences in forms that are acceptable. 4. Generate data and information about the resources in the PCS.

The Project Team members are: -Department of Energy (DOE) -Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) -National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) -University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS) -University of the Philippines Law Center-Institute of International Legal Studies (UPLC-IILS) The project look forward to achieve objectives by 2004

Project Strategy -create properly authorized group -secure funding -assess available/existing data -secure, acquire, process and interpret existing data -identification and delegation of specific tasks -application of “appurtenance test” -acquire/generate new and additional data -prepare submission -negotiate overlapping maritime boundaries -information dissemination

Project Accomplishments -conduct of briefings -roundtable discussions -regular-planning meetings -signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) -initial inventory of existing data The Project also initiated the proposal of creating a National Committee on the Continental Shelf -which shall be responsible for the delineation, documentation, and legitimization of the Philippine claim

Proposed Committee Structure Chair – Vice President Vice Chair for Legal, Diplomatic, and Political Aspect – Department of Foreign Affairs Vice Chair for Scientific and Technical Aspect – Department of Environment and Natural Resources Members: Department of Energy Department of National Defense National Security Council Department of Science and Technology University of the Philippines

The proposed National Committee will be supported by A Technical Working Group (TWG) -tasked to gather, generate, process, and assess bathymetrical, geophysical, and geological data as well as prepare the legal and political arguments. -target for submission to UN-CLCS is 2007 However, the draft EO creating the National Committee is yet to be signed by the President.

DATA REQUIREMENTS Available Data Data Gap Information and Data Sharing, Storage, Security And Confidentiality on the draft EO -ensure effective exchange of data -exclusivity and confidentiality of data among Committee members, specifically to those persons actively involved -use of other party require written permission -DENR to be the final repository, but DOE, MGB, NAMRIA, and UP-NIGS shall also maintain copies

CONSTRAINTS -availability of funds -scarcity of experts on the technical and scientific guidelines -data quality -workstation requirements

In Conclusion -Philippines is very serious in studying and delineating its continental shelf -concerned government agencies exerting efforts to accomplish the task -unfortunate that there are no funds available to finance the task

SALAMAT !!