The House Committee on Foreign Affairs is set to approve today the measure seeking to establish the archipelagic waters, prescribing the rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). HB 4888 empowers the President to designate the archipelagic sea lanes which may be used for the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage and to promulgate rules and regulations relating to associated protective measures to be prescribed in accordance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Conventions and Regulations within areas along the archipelagic sea lanes. Deputy Majority Leader and Citizens Battle against Corruption party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna pressed on the need to pass such measure in response to China's supposed "bullying" in the West Philippine Sea.

Luci, C. M. (2015, February 3). Sea lanes bill due for approval today. Manila Bulletin, p. 6.