SECTION I
The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial, and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.
Necessity of Constitutional Provision on National Territory - the Constitution begins with a delimitation of our national territory.
Binding force of such provision under international law - there is no rule in international law which requires a State to define its territorial boundaries in its Constitution. The reason is that with or without such a provision, a State under international law has the unquestioned right to assert jurisdiction throughout the extent of its territory. Nor is such delimitation binding upon other States who are not precluded from claiming title to territories which they think is theirs. In any case, territorial disputes have to be settled according to the rules of international law.
Value of provision defining our national territory - nevertheless, it is important to define as precisely as possible our national territory for the purpose of making known to the world the areas over which we assert title or ownership to avoid future conflicts with other nations. As a sovereign State, the Philippines can promulgate and enforce laws within our country. Every other power is excluded from exercising dominion or jurisdiction without the consent of the Philippines.
Acquisition of other territories - incidentally, the definition of our national territory in our Constitution does not prevent the Philippines from acquiring other territories in the future through any of the means (e.g. purchase, exchange, etc.) sanctioned by international law.