Baselines of the Philippines

The baselines of the Philippines (Filipino: Mga batayang-guhit ng Pilipinas) are the set of geodesic lines completely encircling the main Philippine archipelago from where the maritime entitlements of the country are measured from. It was first established in 1961^[1] by an act of the Congress of the Philippines which was further amended in April 2009 to optimize and conform it to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the Philippines is a signatory to. A total of 101 basepoints providing for 100 baselines were identified under Republic Act 9522, which identified Amianan Island as the northernmost, Frances Reef as the southernmost, Pusan Point as its easternmost and the Balabac Great Reef as the westernmost points of the main Philippine archipelago.^[2]

Background

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,100 islands enclosed by the lines demarcated by the Treaty of Paris in 1898 and the Convention Between the United States and Great Britain in 1930, which came to be known in the Philippines as its International Treaty Limits.^[3] The government of the Philippines has maintained its position that the waters enclosed by the demarcation lines in the said treaties form part of its territorial waters regardless of its breadth and dimension.^[4]

Baselines

The geographic coordinates below are referenced to the World Geodetic System 1984.^[5]

Basepoint number	Station Name	Location		Latitude (N)	Longitude (E)	Distance to next basepoint (NM)
1	PAB-01	Amianan Island	Batanes	21° 6′ 57.73″	121° 57′ 27.71″	70.03
2	PAB-02	Balintang Island	Cagayan	19° 57′ 38.19″	122° 9′ 46.32″	99.17
3	PAB-04	Iligan Point	Cagayan	18° 18′ 35.30″	122° 20′ 19.07″	71.83
4	PAB-05A	Ditolong Point	Isabela	17° 7′ 16.30″	122° 31′ 28.34″	1.05
5	PAB-05B	Ditolong Point	Isabela	17° 6′ 14.79″	122° 31′ 43.84″	0.39
6	PAB-05	Ditolong Point	Isabela	17° 5′ 51.31″	122° 31′ 42.66″	3.29
7	PAB-06	Spires Island	Isabela	17° 2′ 36.91″	122° 31′ 3.28″	9.74
8	PAB-06B	Digollorin Point	Isabela	16° 53′ 18.03″	122° 27′ 56.61″	3.51
9	PAB-06C	Digollorin Rock	Isabela	16° 49′ 56.11″	122° 26′ 50.78″	2.4
10	PAB-07	Diviuisa Point	Isabela	16° 47′ 38.86″	122° 26′ 4.40″	30.94
11	PAB-08	Dijohan Point	Aurora	16° 18′ 44.33″	122° 14′ 16.69″	116.26
12	PAB-10A	Tinaga Island	Camarines Norte	14° 29′ 54.43″	122° 57′ 51.15″	80.29
13	PAB-11	Horodaba Rock	Catanduanes	14° 6′ 29.91″	124° 16′ 59.21″	0.54
14	PAB-12	Matulin Rock	Catanduanes	14° 6′ 10.40″	124° 17′ 26.28″	96.04
15	PAB-13	Atalaya Point	Northern Samar	12° 41′ 6.37″	125° 3′ 53.71″	6.79
16	PAB-13A	Bacan Island	Northern Samar	12° 36′ 18.41″	125° 8′ 50.19″	5.52
17	PAB-14	Finch Rock	Northern Samar	12° 32′ 33.62″	125° 12′ 59.70″	0.8
18	PAB-14A	Cube Rock	Northern Samar	12° 31′ 57.45″	125° 13′ 32.37″	4.9
19	PAB-14D	NW Manjud Point	Northern Samar	12° 28′ 36.42″	125° 17′ 12.32″	1.3
20	PAB-15	SE Manjud Point	Northern Samar	12° 27′ 37.51″	125° 18′ 5.23″	7.69
21	PAB-16A	E Sora Cay	Northern Samar	12° 21′ 41.64″	125° 23′ 7.41″	5.68
22	PAB-16B	Panablijon	Eastern Samar	12° 17′ 27.17″	125° 27′ 0.12″	5.21
23	PAB-16C	Alugon	Eastern Samar	12° 13′ 21.95″	125° 30′ 19.47″	1.94
24	PAB-16D	N Bunga Point	Eastern Samar	12° 11′ 48.16″	125° 31′ 30.88″	0.54
25	PAB-17A	E Bunga Point	Eastern Samar	12° 11′ 20.67″	125° 31′ 48.29″	5.71
26	PAB-18A	SE Tubabao Island	Eastern Samar	12° 6′ 7.00″	125° 34′ 11.94″	83.84
27	PAB-19C	Suluan Island	Eastern Samar	10° 45′ 16.70″	125° 58′ 8.78″	56.28
28	PAB-19D	N Tuason Point	Surigao del Norte	9° 49′ 59.58″	126° 10′ 6.39″	57.44
29	PAB-20A	Arangasa Island	Surigao del Sur	8° 53′ 16.62″	126° 20′ 48.81″	40.69
30	PAB-21B	Sanco Point	Surigao del Sur	8° 13′ 11.53″	126° 28′ 53.25″	30.8
31	PAB-22	Bagoso Island	Davao Oriental	7° 42′ 45.02″	126° 34′ 29.03″	12.95
32	PAB-22C	Languyan	Davao Oriental	7° 29′ 49.47″	126° 35′ 59.24″	0.54
33	PAB-23	Languyan	Davao Oriental	7° 29′ 16.93″	126° 35′ 59.50″	0.76
34	PAB-23B	Languyan	Davao Oriental	7° 28′ 30.97″	126° 35′ 57.30″	1.02
35	PAB-23C	N Baculin Point	Davao Oriental	7° 27′ 29.42″	126° 35′ 51.71″	10.12
36	PAB-24	Pusan Point	Davao Oriental	7° 17′ 19.80″	126° 36′ 18.16″	1.14
37	PAB-24A	S Pusan Point	Davao Oriental	7° 16′ 14.43″	126° 35′ 57.20″	63.28
38	PAB-25B	Cape San Agustin	Davao Oriental	6° 17′ 14.73″	126° 12′ 14.40″	1.28
39	PAB-25	Cape San Agustin	Davao Oriental	6° 16′ 8.35″	126° 11′ 35.06″	67.65
40	PAB-26	SE Sarangani Island	Davao Occidental	5° 23′ 34.20″	125° 28′ 42.11″	0.43
41	PAB-27	Panguil Bato Point	Davao Occidental	5° 23′ 21.80″	125° 28′ 19.59″	3.44
42	PAB-28	Tapundo Point	Davao Occidental	5° 21′ 55.66″	125° 25′ 11.21″	3.31
43	PAB-29	W Calia Point	Davao Occidental	5° 21′ 58.48″	125° 21′ 52.03″	0.87
44	PAB-30	Manamil Island	Davao Occidental	5° 22′ 2.91″	125° 20′ 59.73″	1.79
45	PAB-31	Marampog Point	Davao Occidental	5° 23′ 20.18″	125° 19′ 44.29″	78.42
46	PAB-32	Pola Point	Sultan Kudarat	6° 9′ 8.44″	124° 15′ 42.81″	122.88
47	PAB-33A	Kauluan Island	Basilan	6° 26′ 47.22″	122° 13′ 34.50″	29.44
48	PAB-34A	Tongquil Island	Sulu	6° 2′ 33.77″	121° 56′ 36.20″	2.38
49	PAB-35	Tongquil Island	Sulu	6° 1′ 8.15″	121° 54′ 41.45″	1.72
50	PAB-35A	Tongquil Island	Sulu	6° 0′ 17.88″	121° 53′ 11.17″	85.94
51	PAB-38A	Kinapusan Island	Tawi-Tawi	5° 12′ 8.70″	120° 41′ 38.14″	55.24
52	PAB-39	Manuk Manka Island	Tawi-Tawi	4° 47′ 39.24″	119° 51′ 58.08″	43.44
53	PAB-40	Frances Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4° 24′ 53.84″	119° 14′ 50.71″	0.61
54	PAB-40A	Frances Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4° 25′ 3.83″	119° 14′ 15.15″	15.48
55	PAB-41A	Bajapa Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4° 36′ 9.01″	119° 3′ 22.75″	6.88
56	PAB-42A	Paguan Island	Tawi-Tawi	4° 42′ 52.07″	119° 1′ 44.04″	3.4
57	PAB-43	Alice Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4° 45′ 55.25″	119° 3′ 15.19″	2.28
58	PAB-44	Alice Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4° 47′ 5.36″	119° 5′ 12.94″	18.6
59	PAB-45	Omapoy Rock	Tawi-Tawi	4° 55′ 10.45″	119° 22′ 1.30″	23.37
60	PAB-46	Bukut Lapis Point	Tawi-Tawi	5° 2′ 23.73″	119° 44′ 18.14″	44.2
61	PAB-47	Pearl Bank	Sulu	5° 46′ 35.15″	119° 39′ 51.77″	75.17
62	PAB-48	Baguan Island	Tawi-Tawi	6° 5′ 58.41″	118° 26′ 57.30″	8.54
63	PAB-48A	Taganak Island	Tawi-Tawi	6° 4′ 14.08″	118° 18′ 33.33″	13.46
64	PAB-49	Great Bakkungaan Island	Tawi-Tawi	6° 11′ 4.65″	118° 6′ 54.15″	3.97
65	PAB-50	Lihiman Island	Tawi-Tawi	6° 13′ 39.90″	118° 3′ 52.09″	5.53
66	PAB-51	Sibaung Island	Tawi-Tawi	6° 17′ 43.99″	118° 0′ 5.44″	41.6
67	PAB-52	Muligi Island	Tawi-Tawi	6° 52′ 14.53″	118° 23′ 40.49″	75.06
68	PAB-53	South Mangsee Island	Palawan	7° 30′ 26.05″	117° 18′ 33.75″	26
69	PAB-54	Balabac Island	Palawan	7° 48′ 30.69″	116° 59′ 39.18″	6.08
70	PAB-54A	Balabac Great Reef	Palawan	7° 51′ 27.17″	116° 54′ 17.19″	1.18
71	PAB-54B	Balabac Great Reef	Palawan	7° 52′ 19.86″	116° 53′ 28.73″	2.27
72	PAB-55	Balabac Great Reef	Palawan	7° 54′ 36.35″	116° 53′ 16.64″	7.42
73	PAB-60	Ada Reef	Palawan	8° 2′ 0.26″	116° 54′ 10.04″	10.85
74	PAB-61	Secam Island	Palawan	8° 11′ 18.36″	116° 59′ 51.87″	30.88
75	PAB-62	Latud Point	Palawan	8° 37′ 56.37″	117° 15′ 51.23″	7.91
76	PAB-63	SW Tatub Point	Palawan	8° 44′ 17.40″	117° 20′ 39.37″	11.89
77	PAB-63A	W Sicud Point	Palawan	8° 53′ 32.20″	117° 28′ 15.78″	13.2
78	PAB-64	Tarumpitao Point	Palawan	9° 2′ 57.47″	117° 37′ 38.88″	81.12
79	PAB-64B	Dry Island	Palawan	9° 59′ 22.54″	118° 36′ 53.61″	82.76
80	PAB-65C	Binangcolan Point	Palawan	11° 13′ 19.82″	119° 15′ 17.74″	74.65
81	PAB-67	Pinnacle Rock	Palawan	12° 19′ 35.22″	119° 50′ 56.00″	93.88
82	PAB-68	Cabra Island	Occidental Mindoro	13° 53′ 21.45″	120° 1′ 5.86″	115.69
83	PAB-71	Hermana Mayor Island	Zambales	15° 48′ 43.61″	119° 46′ 56.09″	9.3
84	PAB-72	Tambobo Point	Pangasinan	15° 57′ 51.67″	119° 44′ 55.32″	12.06
85	PAB-73B	Rena Point	Pangasinan	16° 9′ 57.90″	119° 45′ 15.76″	0.25
86	PAB-73	Rena Point	Pangasinan	16° 10′ 12.42″	119° 45′ 11.95	6.43
87	PAB-74	Rocky Ledge	Pangasinan	16° 16′ 34.46″	119° 46′ 19.50″	0.65
88	PAB-74A	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16° 17′ 12.70″	119° 46′ 28.52″	1.3
89	PAB-75	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16° 18′ 29.49″	119° 46′ 44.94″	1.04
90	PAB-75C	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16° 19′ 28.20″	119° 47′ 7.69″	0.63
91	PAB-75D	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16° 20′ 4.38″	119° 47′ 20.48″	80.6
92	PAB-76	Dile Point	Ilocos Sur	17° 34′ 24.94″	120° 20′ 33.36″	6.86
93	PAB-77	Pinget Island	Ilocos Sur	17° 41′ 17.56″	120° 21′ 2.02″	14.15
94	PAB-78	Badoc Island	Ilocos Norte	17° 55′ 4.13″	120° 24′ 40.56″	35.4
95	PAB-79	Cape Bojeador	Ilocos Norte	18° 29′ 32.42″	120° 33′ 42.41″	1.77
96	PAB-79B	Bobon	Ilocos Norte	18° 30′ 52.88″	120° 34′ 55.35″	53.23
97	PAB-80	Calagangan Point	Cagayan	19° 10′ 14.78″	121° 12′ 52.64″	98.07
98	PAB-82	Itbayat Island	Batanes	20° 43′ 15.74″	121° 46′ 57.80″	25.63
99	PAB-83	Amianan Island	Batanes	21° 7′ 17.47″	121° 56′ 43.85″	0.08
100	PAB-84	Amianan Island	Batanes	21° 7′ 18.41″	121° 56′ 48.79″	0.25
101	PAB-85	Amianan Island	Batanes	21° 7′ 12.04″	121° 57′ 3.65″	0.44

References

1. "Limits in the Seas: No. 142 Philippines: Archipelagic and other Maritime Claims and Boundaries" (PDF) 142. United States Department of State: 1–18. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
2. "Republic Act No. 9522". Official Gazette. GOVPH. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
3. Bautista, Lowell B. "The Philippine Treaty Limits and Territorial Waters Claim in International Law". Retrieved 26 November 2015.
4. Wolfrum, Rüdiger (1991). Law of the sea at the crossroads. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. p. 123. ISBN 3-428-07240-5. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
5. "Deposit by the Republic of the Philippines of a list of geographical coordinates of points pursuant to article 47, paragraph 9, of the Convention" (PDF). 21 April 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2015.