Practice question
A research company seeks to place seabed drilling equipment on an undisputed Philippine continental shelf. It argues that the Philippines’ shelf jurisdiction covers only minerals already removed from the seabed and therefore cannot govern the drilling operation or associated marine scientific research. Which analysis follows Section 8 of Republic Act No. 12064?
- The argument is correct because shelf rights begin only upon extraction.
- The argument fails because the statute expressly includes drilling, marine scientific research and specified seabed installations within the shelf regime.
- The argument is correct unless the water is shallower than ten meters.
- The Philippines must first claim sovereignty over all overlying airspace.
- All seabed drilling is legally equivalent to ordinary navigation.
Legal references
- Republic Act No. 12064, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, Sections 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 13: https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/98027
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