The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) need not wait for the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (PMZA or RA 12064) to start charting the country’s new map reflecting its maritime domain and entitlements under the newly signed law.

This was stressed by Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino, the principal author and sponsor of the PMZA, at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum held this morning.

“I would like to correct NAMRIA, there is no need for the IRR to be crafted for them to start mapping. The PMZA itself is enough,” Tolentino told reporters, in reaction to NAMRIA administrator Undersecretary Peter Tiangco, who earlier said that the agency would wait for the IRR before making modifications to the country’s official maps.

In addition, Tolentino explained the role of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee under Section 16 of PMZA, in relation to NAMRIA’s mandated tasks.

He outlined the oversight panel’s primary functions, as follows: “One, ensuring the maps are properly charted; two, that the entitlements are properly claimed therein; and three, that the necessary legal consequences are properly and positively implemented.”

Tolentino also reminded the media and the public to focus not just on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) when talking about the PMZA, but also the Talampas ng Pilipinas (Philippine Rise, formerly known as the Benham Rise) located in the country’s Eastern Seaboard.

“When we refer to the PMZA, we mostly talk about the West Philippine Sea. But we must also focus on the Talampas, which surveys indicate, is rich in marine resources, minerals, and natural gas,” he pointed out.

“Whatever entitlements are claimed in the WPS are likewise claimed and invoked in the Philippine Rise. And this has been recognized by the United Nations since 2009.”

Tolentino noted that four underwater features of the Philippine Rise have already been named by China, even ahead of the Philippines – but there are still more than a hundred unnamed underwater features that the country could rightfully name.

“We could name these after Gabriela Silang, Raja Sulayman, and so on. This would be our legacy to future generations,” emphasized Tolentino, who also chairs the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones.

A lawyer and law professor, Tolentino said that he would also like to see the PMZA and its twin measure, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (RA 12065), be taught as elective courses in law schools to educate future lawyers and judges about their historic significance and impact on the country’s future.