BATASAN HILLS, Quezon City — President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is set to sign a new law that would protect the country from foreign ships that indiscriminately pollute domestic waters across the country's territorial waters as well as coastal and oceanic areas sorrounding the archipelago.

When finally signed into law, the measure will provide corresponding penalties to those who violate local environmental laws and even poachers who fish or explore local marine resources.

The law providing for the establishment of archipelagic sea lanes in the Philippine archipelagic waters (Republic Act 12065) reaffirms domestic sovereignty and sovereign rights over these waters and strictly prohibits foreign ships and aircraft passing through designated lanes.

According to Camarines Sur District V representative Miguel Luis 'Migz' Villafuerte, non-compliance with the new law's provisions will mean a penalty of imprisonment of one year and one day to two years and two months and/or a fine of US$1.2 million or its local peso equivalent, at the discretion of the court.

“Such penalties shall be imposed on the master of the ship or captain of the aircraft; and if the owner of the vessel or aircraft is a corporation, partnership or juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president or head of this business entity in breach of this new law,” the lawmaker pointed out.

RA 12065, or more popularly known as the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, was co-authored by Villafuerte, helping constructively in crafting the bill where foreign civilian ships and aircraft found to violate such will be facing criminal charges under existing Philippine laws on fisheries, customs, immigration, sanitation and environment.

The Bicolano congressman spelled out that under RA 12065, foreign ships and aircraft exercising archipelagic passage over Philippine territory and maritime zones are prohibited from discharging oil, oily and solid wastes and other noxious substances or ballast water in the sea.

Discharging sewage, garbage and air emissions from ships in violation of existing conventions on the prevention of marine pollution and conducting any fishing operation, marine bioprospecting or exploitation of marine resources of the Philippines will also be penalized.

The signing of RA 12065 and 12064, o( the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, as companion laws, reaffirms Philippine sovereignty over internal and archipelagic waters along with sovereign rights over exclusive economic zone waters, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The twin laws likewise designated the sea lanes and air routes where foreign vessels and aircraft can legally pass through under the UNCLOS-set “right of innocent passage.”