ARTICLE I NATIONAL TERRITORY

2. ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1 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, maritime, 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 internal waters of the Philippines.

3. NECESSITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION ON NATIONAL TERRITORYBinding force of such

provision under international law. Value of provision defining our national territory. Acquisition
of other territories.

4. Binding force of such provision under internationa l law A State under the international law
has the unquestioned right to assert jurisdiction throughout the extent of its territory If there is
a territorial dispute it should be settled according to the international law.

5. Value of provisio n defining our national territory . It is important to know so that we and the
other nations would know the boundaries of our country. the Philippines can promulgate and
enforce its laws within our country.

6. ACQUISITION OF OTHER TERRITORIES. does not prevent the Philippines from acquiring new
territories by means of purchase, exchange, and such.

7. NATIONAL TERRITORY OF THE PHILIPPINES The Philippine archipelago with all the islands and
waters embraced therein All other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or
jurisdiction The terrestrial, fluvial, maritime, and aerial domain and the territorial sea, the
seabed, etc. The internal waters Philippines territory

8. OTHER TERRITORIES OVER WHICH THE PHILIPPINES HAS SOVEREIGNTY OR JURISDICTION

9. PENDING PHILIPPINE CLAIM TO SABAH, ETC According to the 1973 constitution , “all the
other territories belonging to the Philippines by historic right or legal title” It was amended
during the 1987 Phil. Constitution.

10. PENDING PHILIPPINE CLAIM TO SABAH, ETC Any other territory over which the Philippines
has sovereignty or jurisdiction

11. FUTURE CLAIMS BY THE PHILIPPINES TO OTHER AREAS The deletion of “by historic right or
legal title” is designed to improve our relations with Malaysia while allowing flexibility in
pursuing the Sabah claim

12. OTHER AREAS INCLUDED IN THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO.

13. Territorial sea •Part of the sea extending 12 nautical miles (19km) from the low water mark
Seabed •The land that holds the sea Subsoil •Refers to everything beneath the surface soil and
the seabed

14. Insular shelves • Submerged portions of a continent or offshore island Other submarine
areas • All areas under the territorial sea like seamount, trough, trench, basin, deep, bank, etc

15. THREE-FOLD DIVISION OF NAVIGABLE WATERS. Waters of the earth (international law)
Inland or internal waters Territorial sea High open seas

16. THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRATION (THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES V. THE PEOPLE’S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA)