Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The National Maritime Council on Friday backed the submission of the official nautical chart of Bajo de Masinloc and its surrounding maritime zones to the United Nations Secretariat on July 29.Bajo de Masinloc, which is also known as Scarborough Shoal, is part of the Philippines’ territory being claimed by China. “It&#x27;s a sovereign act that we are affirming what we have, that the Scarborough Shoal is an integral part of our territory, and we have come up with a chart showing the maritime zones that surround it, that surround the Bajo de Masinloc,” said National Maritime Council Undersecretary Alexander Lopez.Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Secretary Andres Centino, said the submission is in accordance with Article 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which requires coastal states to submit information on the charts of their entitlements. “That would complete our assertion. That would, in a way, strengthen our claims,” Centino mentioned.Despite possible reactions from neighboring countries to the submission, Centino said that what is important is that the Philippine government complied with the UN requirement.Lopez added that the nautical chart will help ships passing through maritime zones know which parts are dangerous.Asked why the nautical chart was submitted only now, Lopez explained, “It is a part of our maritime governance effort, actually. So we are deliberately, slowly naman yun, so we need to come up with technical, scientific processes so that once we submit it to the Secretary of the UN, meron tayong pang-angkla.”<div><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/30/ph-seeks-extended-continental-shelf-in-west-philippine-sea-1730">PH seeks extended continental shelf in West Philippine Sea</a></div>

The National Maritime Council on Friday backed the submission of the official nautical chart of Bajo de Masinloc and its surrounding maritime zones to the United Nations Secretariat on July 29.

The National Maritime Council on Friday backed the submission of the official nautical chart of Bajo de Masinloc and its surrounding maritime zones to the United Nations Secretariat on July 29.

National Maritime Council backs submission of Bajo de Masinloc nautical chart to UN

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National Maritime Council backs submission of Bajo de Masinloc nautical chart to UN

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2026 10:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Bajo De Masinloc

nautical chart

National Maritime Council

United Nations

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