OTHER AREAS INCLUDED IN THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO

The Philippine territory consists of its terrestial, fluvial, and aerial domains. Included in its fluvial domains, in addition to the external waters, are:

The Territorial Sea - it is that part of the sea extending 12 nautical miles (19kms) from the low-watermark. It is also called the "marginal sea," the "marginal belt," or the "marine belt."


The seabed (or sea floor or sea bottom) - this refers to the land that holds the sea, lying beyond the seashore, including mineral and natural resources.


The sub-soil - this refers to everything beneath the surface soil and the seabed, including mineral and natural resources.


Insular Shelves (or continental shelves) - they are the submerged portions of a continent or offshore island, which slope gently seaward from the low waterline to a point where a substantial break in grade occurs, at which point the bottom slopes seaward at a considerable increase in slope until the great ocen depths are reached.


Other Submarine Areas - they refer to all areas under the territorial sea. Among oceanographic terms used are seamount, through, trench, basin, deep, bank, shoal, and reef.

As part of the national territory, the sea-bed, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas are necessary co-extensive with the territorial sea. The Philippines has a right or title to them to the extent recognized by international law.