LOOK: Philippines and Indonesia's new boundary line

MANILA, Philippines — Where exactly is the newly agreed boundary line of the Philippines and Indonesia?

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday released a copy of the newly signed agreement concerning the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundary in the Mindanao and Celebes Seas.

According to the new pact, the new EEZ boundary is defined by geodetic lines connecting eight points indicated in geographical coordinates that form a single line.

The total length of the new boundary line is 627.51 nautical miles or 1,162.2 kilometers, the DFA said as it answered some of the questions regarding the new agreement.

The DFA said the agreement on the EEZ boundary has achieved the vision of President Benigno Aquino III to enhance the Philippines' cooperation with Indonesia in various fields such as marine environment protection and concerns on regional stability and peace.

Read: Philippines, Indonesia sign deal ending sea dispute

"A clearly defined maritime boundary between the Philippines and Indonesia will promote more cooperation in the EEZ in order to advance the common interest of managing and preserving the resources in the EEZ and in strengthening security cooperation," the DFA said.

Benefits to fishermen, maritime authorities

With a clearly demarcated boundary line as guided by an official chart, the DFA said Filipino fishing vessels and fishermen will be able to do livelihood activities in the Philippine EEZ knowing where the Indonesian EEZ begins.  

The DFA said coast guard and law enforcement authorities of the Philippines and Indonesia will also be able to implement rules and regulations with clear jurisdictional area since they will know the maximum extent of their respective EEZs.

"Furthermore, PH fisheries authorities can advise fishing communities especially in Mindanao the limits of the Philippine EEZ," the DFA said.

According to the DFA, Filipino fishing vessels may still exercise freedom of navigation through the EEZ of Indonesia but they must follow relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The DFA said it will conduct further discussions with Indonesia on the arrangements for the navigation of Filipino vessels into the Indonesian EEZ.

Together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the DFA will also organize meetings with various fishing organizations in Davao, particularly with the deep sea fishing companies, to discuss the details of the EEZ boundary.