Manila: The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) has clarified the role of official Philippine maps and the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundaries in depicting and protecting the country's maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea amid the renewed public discussion on the issue.
According to Philippines News Agency, NAMRIA has emphasized that the Philippines has formally adopted the name 'West Philippine Sea' in government publications since 2012. NAMRIA places the label consistently across its official maps and charts, including administrative maps, topographic maps, thematic maps, and nautical charts used for navigation. These materials are technical reference documents used by mariners, planners, researchers, and institutions, both domestic and international, for navigation, geographic information, and maritime safety.
Under international law, NAMRIA stated that the country's EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from its archipelagic baselines. This creates a continuous curved boundary, similar to the edge of a circle. A short list of coordinates would not accurately define the country's maritime limits, and the boundary is represented through precise geospatial data derived from the archipelagic baselines defined in RA 9522. This allows navigation systems and mapping software to compute the limits correctly. RA 9522, signed in March 2009, amends previous provisions, redefining the country's maritime territory to align with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
NAMRIA affirmed that its nautical charts comply with international hydrographic standards and are used by both Philippine and foreign vessels navigating waters under Philippine jurisdiction. These charts are submitted to relevant international technical bodies, including the International Hydrographic Organization, integrating Philippine geographic information into the global maritime record and supporting safe navigation and responsible maritime activity.
The agency vowed to continue upholding its mandate to produce accurate and reliable geospatial information, ensuring national sovereignty, maritime safety, disaster preparedness, and sound resource management through scientifically correct and internationally compliant maps and charts.
