A Philippine House of Representatives committee on Wednesday approved a bill that seeks to declare parts of the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea protected zones. The House committee on natural resources endorsed House Bill 6373, which seeks to protect the three nautical miles around the Kalayaan group of islands and Scarborough Shoal. These areas are within the Southeast Asian nation’s exclusive economic zone, which it calls the West Philippine Sea.

Cruz, B. M. D. (2023, January 26). House panel OK's bill protecting areas of 'West Philippine Sea'. Business World, p. S1/9.