Baselines of the Philippines explained

The baselines of the Philippines (Filipino; Pilipino: mga batayang-guhit ng Pilipinas) are the set of geodesic lines completely encircling the Philippine archipelago from where the maritime entitlements of the country are measured. 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, to which the Philippines is a signatory. A total of 101 basepoints providing for 100 baselines were identified under Republic Act No. 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 7,641 islands customarily enclosed by the lines demarcated by the Treaty of Paris in 1898 and its supplementary Treaty of Washington of 1900, 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] [4]} 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.^{[5] [6]}

Baselines

The geographic coordinates below are referenced to the World Geodetic System 1984.^[7]

	Station name	Location	Province		Latitude	Longitude	Distance to next basepoint
1	PAB-01	Amianan Island	Batanes	21.116°N 121.9577°W	21° 6′ 57.73″	121° 57′ 27.71″	70.03disp=tableNaNdisp=table
2	PAB-02	Balintang Island	Cagayan	19.9606°N 122.1629°W	19° 57′ 38.19″	122° 9′ 46.32″	99.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table
3	PAB-04	Iligan Point	Cagayan	18.3098°N 122.3386°W	18° 18′ 35.30″	122° 20′ 19.07″	71.83disp=tableNaNdisp=table
4	PAB-05A	Ditolong Point	Isabela	17.1212°N 122.5245°W	17° 7′ 16.30″	122° 31′ 28.34″	1.05disp=tableNaNdisp=table
5	PAB-05B	Ditolong Point	Isabela	17.1041°N 122.5288°W	17° 6′ 14.79″	122° 31′ 43.84″	0.39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
6	PAB-05	Ditolong Point	Isabela	17.0976°N 122.5285°W	17° 5′ 51.31″	122° 31′ 42.66″	3.29disp=tableNaNdisp=table
7	PAB-06	Spires Island	Isabela	17.0436°N 122.5176°W	17° 2′ 36.91″	122° 31′ 3.28″	9.74disp=tableNaNdisp=table
8	PAB-06B	Digollorin Point	Isabela	16.8883°N 122.4657°W	16° 53′ 18.03″	122° 27′ 56.61″	3.51disp=tableNaNdisp=table
9	PAB-06C	Digollorin Rock	Isabela	16.8323°N 122.4474°W	16° 49′ 56.11″	122° 26′ 50.78″	2.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table
10	PAB-07	Diviuisa Point	Isabela	16.7941°N 122.4346°W	16° 47′ 38.86″	122° 26′ 4.40″	30.94disp=tableNaNdisp=table
11	PAB-08	Dijohan Point	Aurora	16.3123°N 122.238°W	16° 18′ 44.33″	122° 14′ 16.69″	116.26disp=tableNaNdisp=table
12	PAB-10A	Tinaga Island	Camarines Norte	14.4985°N 122.9642°W	14° 29′ 54.43″	122° 57′ 51.15″	80.29disp=tableNaNdisp=table
13	PAB-11	Horodaba Rock	Catanduanes	14.1083°N 124.2831°W	14° 6′ 29.91″	124° 16′ 59.21″	0.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
14	PAB-12	Matulin Rock	Catanduanes	14.1029°N 124.2906°W	14° 6′ 10.40″	124° 17′ 26.28″	96.04disp=tableNaNdisp=table
15	PAB-13	Atalaya Point	Northern Samar	12.6851°N 125.0649°W	12° 41′ 6.37″	125° 3′ 53.71″	6.79disp=tableNaNdisp=table
16	PAB-13A	Bacan Island	Northern Samar	12.6051°N 125.1473°W	12° 36′ 18.41″	125° 8′ 50.19″	5.52disp=tableNaNdisp=table
17	PAB-14	Finch Rock	Northern Samar	12.5427°N 125.2166°W	12° 32′ 33.62″	125° 12′ 59.70″	0.8disp=tableNaNdisp=table
18	PAB-14A	Cube Rock	Northern Samar	12.5326°N 125.2257°W	12° 31′ 57.45″	125° 13′ 32.37″	4.9disp=tableNaNdisp=table
19	PAB-14D	NW Manjud Point	Northern Samar	12.4768°N 125.2868°W	12° 28′ 36.42″	125° 17′ 12.32″	1.3disp=tableNaNdisp=table
20	PAB-15	SE Manjud Point	Northern Samar	12.4604°N 125.3015°W	12° 27′ 37.51″	125° 18′ 5.23″	7.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
21	PAB-16A	E Sora Cay	Northern Samar	12.3616°N 125.3854°W	12° 21′ 41.64″	125° 23′ 7.41″	5.68disp=tableNaNdisp=table
22	PAB-16B	Panablijon	Eastern Samar	12.2909°N 125.45°W	12° 17′ 27.17″	125° 27′ 0.12″	5.21disp=tableNaNdisp=table
23	PAB-16C	Alugon	Eastern Samar	12.2228°N 125.5054°W	12° 13′ 21.95″	125° 30′ 19.47″	1.94disp=tableNaNdisp=table
24	PAB-16D	N Bunga Point	Eastern Samar	12.1967°N 125.5252°W	12° 11′ 48.16″	125° 31′ 30.88″	0.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
25	PAB-17A	E Bunga Point	Eastern Samar	12.1891°N 125.5301°W	12° 11′ 20.67″	125° 31′ 48.29″	5.71disp=tableNaNdisp=table
26	PAB-18A	SE Tubabao Island	Eastern Samar	12.1019°N 125.57°W	12° 6′ 7.00″	125° 34′ 11.94″	83.84disp=tableNaNdisp=table
27	PAB-19C	Suluan Island	Eastern Samar	10.7546°N 125.9691°W	10° 45′ 16.70″	125° 58′ 8.78″	56.28disp=tableNaNdisp=table
28	PAB-19D	N Tuason Point	Surigao del Norte	9.8332°N 126.1684°W	9° 49′ 59.58″	126° 10′ 6.39″	57.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
29	PAB-20A	Arangasa Island	Surigao del Sur	8.888°N 126.3469°W	8° 53′ 16.62″	126° 20′ 48.81″	40.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
30	PAB-21B	Sanco Point	Surigao del Sur	8.2199°N 126.4815°W	8° 13′ 11.53″	126° 28′ 53.25″	30.8disp=tableNaNdisp=table
31	PAB-22	Bagoso Island	Davao Oriental	7.7125°N 126.5747°W	7° 42′ 45.02″	126° 34′ 29.03″	12.95disp=tableNaNdisp=table
32	PAB-22C	Languyan	Davao Oriental	7.4971°N 126.5998°W	7° 29′ 49.47″	126° 35′ 59.24″	0.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
33	PAB-23	Languyan	Davao Oriental	7.488°N 126.5999°W	7° 29′ 16.93″	126° 35′ 59.50″	0.76disp=tableNaNdisp=table
34	PAB-23B	Languyan	Davao Oriental	7.4753°N 126.5993°W	7° 28′ 30.97″	126° 35′ 57.30″	1.02disp=tableNaNdisp=table
35	PAB-23C	N Baculin Point	Davao Oriental	7.4582°N 126.5977°W	7° 27′ 29.42″	126° 35′ 51.71″	10.12disp=tableNaNdisp=table
36	PAB-24	Pusan Point	Davao Oriental	7.2888°N 126.605°W	7° 17′ 19.80″	126° 36′ 18.16″	1.14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
37	PAB-24A	S Pusan Point	Davao Oriental	7.2707°N 126.5992°W	7° 16′ 14.43″	126° 35′ 57.20″	63.28disp=tableNaNdisp=table
38	PAB-25B	Cape San Agustin	Davao Oriental	6.2874°N 126.204°W	6° 17′ 14.73″	126° 12′ 14.40″	1.28disp=tableNaNdisp=table
39	PAB-25	Cape San Agustin	Davao Oriental	6.269°N 126.1931°W	6° 16′ 8.35″	126° 11′ 35.06″	67.65disp=tableNaNdisp=table
40	PAB-26	SE Sarangani Island	Davao Occidental	5.3928°N 125.4784°W	5° 23′ 34.20″	125° 28′ 42.11″	0.43disp=tableNaNdisp=table
41	PAB-27	Panguil Bato Point	Davao Occidental	5.3894°N 125.4721°W	5° 23′ 21.80″	125° 28′ 19.59″	3.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
42	PAB-28	Tapundo Point	Davao Occidental	5.3655°N 125.4198°W	5° 21′ 55.66″	125° 25′ 11.21″	3.31disp=tableNaNdisp=table
43	PAB-29	W Calia Point	Davao Occidental	5.3662°N 125.3645°W	5° 21′ 58.48″	125° 21′ 52.03″	0.87disp=tableNaNdisp=table
44	PAB-30	Manamil Island	Davao Occidental	5.3675°N 125.3499°W	5° 22′ 2.91″	125° 20′ 59.73″	1.79disp=tableNaNdisp=table
45	PAB-31	Marampog Point	Davao Occidental	5.3889°N 125.329°W	5° 23′ 20.18″	125° 19′ 44.29″	78.42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
46	PAB-32	Pola Point	Sultan Kudarat	6.1523°N 124.2619°W	6° 9′ 8.44″	124° 15′ 42.81″	122.88disp=tableNaNdisp=table
47	PAB-33A	Kauluan Island	Basilan	6.4465°N 122.2263°W	6° 26′ 47.22″	122° 13′ 34.50″	29.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
48	PAB-34A	Tongquil Island	Sulu	6.0427°N 121.9434°W	6° 2′ 33.77″	121° 56′ 36.20″	2.38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
49	PAB-35	Tongquil Island	Sulu	6.0189°N 121.9115°W	6° 1′ 8.15″	121° 54′ 41.45″	1.72disp=tableNaNdisp=table
50	PAB-35A	Tongquil Island	Sulu	6.005°N 121.8864°W	6° 0′ 17.88″	121° 53′ 11.17″	85.94disp=tableNaNdisp=table
51	PAB-38A	Kinapusan Island	Tawi-Tawi	5.2024°N 120.6939°W	5° 12′ 8.70″	120° 41′ 38.14″	55.24disp=tableNaNdisp=table
52	PAB-39	Manuk Manka Island	Tawi-Tawi	4.7942°N 119.8661°W	4° 47′ 39.24″	119° 51′ 58.08″	43.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
53	PAB-40	Frances Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4.415°N 119.2474°W	4° 24′ 53.84″	119° 14′ 50.71″	0.61disp=tableNaNdisp=table
54	PAB-40A	Frances Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4.4177°N 119.2375°W	4° 25′ 3.83″	119° 14′ 15.15″	15.48disp=tableNaNdisp=table
55	PAB-41A	Bajapa Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4.6025°N 119.0563°W	4° 36′ 9.01″	119° 3′ 22.75″	6.88disp=tableNaNdisp=table
56	PAB-42A	Paguan Island	Tawi-Tawi	4.7145°N 119.0289°W	4° 42′ 52.07″	119° 1′ 44.04″	3.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table
57	PAB-43	Alice Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4.7653°N 119.0542°W	4° 45′ 55.25″	119° 3′ 15.19″	2.28disp=tableNaNdisp=table
58	PAB-44	Alice Reef	Tawi-Tawi	4.7848°N 119.0869°W	4° 47′ 5.36″	119° 5′ 12.94″	18.6disp=tableNaNdisp=table
59	PAB-45	Omapoy Rock	Tawi-Tawi	4.9196°N 119.367°W	4° 55′ 10.45″	119° 22′ 1.30″	23.37disp=tableNaNdisp=table
60	PAB-46	Bukut Lapis Point	Tawi-Tawi	5.0399°N 119.7384°W	5° 2′ 23.73″	119° 44′ 18.14″	44.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table
61	PAB-47	Pearl Bank	Sulu	5.7764°N 119.6644°W	5° 46′ 35.15″	119° 39′ 51.77″	75.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table
62	PAB-48	Baguan Island	Tawi-Tawi	6.0996°N 118.4493°W	6° 5′ 58.41″	118° 26′ 57.30″	8.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
63	PAB-48A	Taganak Island	Tawi-Tawi	6.0706°N 118.3093°W	6° 4′ 14.08″	118° 18′ 33.33″	13.46disp=tableNaNdisp=table
64	PAB-49	Great Bakkungaan Island	Tawi-Tawi	6.1846°N 118.115°W	6° 11′ 4.65″	118° 6′ 54.15″	3.97disp=tableNaNdisp=table
65	PAB-50	Lihiman Island	Tawi-Tawi	6.2278°N 118.0645°W	6° 13′ 39.90″	118° 3′ 52.09″	5.53disp=tableNaNdisp=table
66	PAB-51	Sibaung Island	Tawi-Tawi	6.2956°N 118.0015°W	6° 17′ 43.99″	118° 0′ 5.44″	41.6disp=tableNaNdisp=table
67	PAB-52	Muligi Island	Tawi-Tawi	6.8707°N 118.3946°W	6° 52′ 14.53″	118° 23′ 40.49″	75.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
68	PAB-53	South Mangsee Island	Palawan	7.5072°N 117.3094°W	7° 30′ 26.05″	117° 18′ 33.75″	26disp=tableNaNdisp=table
69	PAB-54	Balabac Island	Palawan	7.8085°N 116.9942°W	7° 48′ 30.69″	116° 59′ 39.18″	6.08disp=tableNaNdisp=table
70	PAB-54A	Balabac Great Reef	Palawan	7.8575°N 116.9048°W	7° 51′ 27.17″	116° 54′ 17.19″	1.18disp=tableNaNdisp=table
71	PAB-54B	Balabac Great Reef	Palawan	7.8722°N 116.8913°W	7° 52′ 19.86″	116° 53′ 28.73″	2.27disp=tableNaNdisp=table
72	PAB-55	Balabac Great Reef	Palawan	7.9101°N 116.888°W	7° 54′ 36.35″	116° 53′ 16.64″	7.42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
73	PAB-60	Ada Reef	Palawan	8.0334°N 116.9028°W	8° 2′ 0.26″	116° 54′ 10.04″	10.85disp=tableNaNdisp=table
74	PAB-61	Secam Island	Palawan	8.1884°N 116.9977°W	8° 11′ 18.36″	116° 59′ 51.87″	30.88disp=tableNaNdisp=table
75	PAB-62	Latud Point	Palawan	8.6323°N 117.2642°W	8° 37′ 56.37″	117° 15′ 51.23″	7.91disp=tableNaNdisp=table
76	PAB-63	SW Tatub Point	Palawan	8.7382°N 117.3443°W	8° 44′ 17.40″	117° 20′ 39.37″	11.89disp=tableNaNdisp=table
77	PAB-63A	W Sicud Point	Palawan	8.8923°N 117.4711°W	8° 53′ 32.20″	117° 28′ 15.78″	13.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table
78	PAB-64	Tarumpitao Point	Palawan	9.0493°N 117.6275°W	9° 2′ 57.47″	117° 37′ 38.88″	81.12disp=tableNaNdisp=table
79	PAB-64B	Dry Island	Palawan	9.9896°N 118.6149°W	9° 59′ 22.54″	118° 36′ 53.61″	82.76disp=tableNaNdisp=table
80	PAB-65C	Binangcolan Point	Palawan	11.2222°N 119.2549°W	11° 13′ 19.82″	119° 15′ 17.74″	74.65disp=tableNaNdisp=table
81	PAB-67	Pinnacle Rock	Palawan	12.3265°N 119.8489°W	12° 19′ 35.22″	119° 50′ 56.00″	93.88disp=tableNaNdisp=table
82	PAB-68	Cabra Island	Occidental Mindoro	13.8893°N 120.0183°W	13° 53′ 21.45″	120° 1′ 5.86″	115.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
83	PAB-71	Hermana Mayor Island	Zambales	15.8121°N 119.7822°W	15° 48′ 43.61″	119° 46′ 56.09″	9.3disp=tableNaNdisp=table
84	PAB-72	Tambobo Point	Pangasinan	15.9644°N 119.7487°W	15° 57′ 51.67″	119° 44′ 55.32″	12.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
85	PAB-73B	Rena Point	Pangasinan	16.1661°N 119.7544°W	16° 9′ 57.90″	119° 45′ 15.76″	0.25disp=tableNaNdisp=table
86	PAB-73	Rena Point	Pangasinan	16.1701°N 119.7533°W	16° 10′ 12.42″	119° 45′ 11.95	6.43disp=tableNaNdisp=table
87	PAB-74	Rocky Ledge	Pangasinan	16.2762°N 119.7721°W	16° 16′ 34.46″	119° 46′ 19.50″	0.65disp=tableNaNdisp=table
88	PAB-74A	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16.2869°N 119.7746°W	16° 17′ 12.70″	119° 46′ 28.52″	1.3disp=tableNaNdisp=table
89	PAB-75	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16.3082°N 119.7792°W	16° 18′ 29.49″	119° 46′ 44.94″	1.04disp=tableNaNdisp=table
90	PAB-75C	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16.3245°N 119.7855°W	16° 19′ 28.20″	119° 47′ 7.69″	0.63disp=tableNaNdisp=table
91	PAB-75D	Piedra Point	Pangasinan	16.3346°N 119.789°W	16° 20′ 4.38″	119° 47′ 20.48″	80.6disp=tableNaNdisp=table
92	PAB-76	Dile Point	Ilocos Sur	17.5736°N 120.3426°W	17° 34′ 24.94″	120° 20′ 33.36″	6.86disp=tableNaNdisp=table
93	PAB-77	Pinget Island	Ilocos Sur	17.6882°N 120.3506°W	17° 41′ 17.56″	120° 21′ 2.02″	14.15disp=tableNaNdisp=table
94	PAB-78	Badoc Island	Ilocos Norte	17.9178°N 120.4113°W	17° 55′ 4.13″	120° 24′ 40.56″	35.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table
95	PAB-79	Cape Bojeador	Ilocos Norte	18.4923°N 120.5618°W	18° 29′ 32.42″	120° 33′ 42.41″	1.77disp=tableNaNdisp=table
96	PAB-79B	Bobon	Ilocos Norte	18.5147°N 120.582°W	18° 30′ 52.88″	120° 34′ 55.35″	53.23disp=tableNaNdisp=table
97	PAB-80	Calagangan Point	Cagayan	19.1708°N 121.2146°W	19° 10′ 14.78″	121° 12′ 52.64″	98.07disp=tableNaNdisp=table
98	PAB-82	Itbayat Island	Batanes	20.721°N 121.7827°W	20° 43′ 15.74″	121° 46′ 57.80″	25.63disp=tableNaNdisp=table
99	PAB-83	Amianan Island	Batanes	21.1215°N 121.9455°W	21° 7′ 17.47″	121° 56′ 43.85″	0.08disp=tableNaNdisp=table
100	PAB-84	Amianan Island	Batanes	21.1218°N 121.9469°W	21° 7′ 18.41″	121° 56′ 48.79″	0.25disp=tableNaNdisp=table
101	PAB-85	Amianan Island	Batanes	21.12°N 121.951°W	21° 7′ 12.04″	121° 57′ 3.65″	0.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table

See also

• Extreme points of the Philippines

External links

• Republic Act No. 3046, An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines
• Republic Act No. 5446, An Act to Amend Section One of Republic Act Numbered Thirty Hundred and Forty-six, Entitled “an Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines”
• Republic Act No. 9522, An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 3046, as Amended by Republic Act No. 5446, to Define the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippines, and for Other Purposes

Notes and References

1. Web site: Limits in the Seas: No. 142 Philippines: Archipelagic and other Maritime Claims and Boundaries. 142. 1–18. November 26, 2015. United States Department of State.
2. Web site: Republic Act No. 9522. Official Gazette. March 10, 2009 . GOVPH. November 26, 2015.
3. Bautista. Lowell B.. The Philippine Treaty Limits and Territorial Waters Claim in International Law. November 26, 2015.
4. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/06/07/2361015/china-has-backed-philippine-maritime-zone-carpio
5. Book: Wolfrum. Rüdiger. Law of the sea at the crossroads. 1991. Duncker & Humblot. Berlin. 3-428-07240-5. 123. November 26, 2015.
6. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/06/07/2361015/china-has-backed-philippine-maritime-zone-carpio
7. Deposit by the Republic of the Philippines of a list of geographical coordinates of points pursuant to article 47, paragraph 9, of the Convention. April 21, 2009. November 26, 2015.