As provided in Article 1 of the 1987 Constitution, what comprises the Philippines' territory?

As provided in Article 1 of the 1987 Constitution, what comprises the Philippines' territory?

• A. Only the archipelago
• B. Only the territorial sea
• C. Terrestrial, Fluvial and Aerial domains including territorial sea, seabed, subsoil, insular shelves and other submarine areas
• D. The sea and air only

Answer: (C)

The territory of the Philippines covers more than just land; it includes the land itself, inland waters such as rivers, and the airspace above, and it extends seaward to include the territorial sea, the seabed, subsoil, insular shelves, and other submarine areas. This full scope is stated in Article I of the 1987 Constitution, describing the national territory as the Philippine archipelago with all its islands and waters, plus the terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, and the sea areas and submerged zones over which the Philippines has sovereignty. That broad, comprehensive formulation is why the correct option is the best fit. The other choices are incomplete because they mention only the archipelago, or only the territorial sea, or only sea and air, leaving out inland waters or submerged areas.

The territory of the Philippines covers more than just land; it includes the land itself, inland waters such as rivers, and the airspace above, and it extends seaward to include the territorial sea, the seabed, subsoil, insular shelves, and other submarine areas. This full scope is stated in Article I of the 1987 Constitution, describing the national territory as the Philippine archipelago with all its islands and waters, plus the terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, and the sea areas and submerged zones over which the Philippines has sovereignty. That broad, comprehensive formulation is why the correct option is the best fit. The other choices are incomplete because they mention only the archipelago, or only the territorial sea, or only sea and air, leaving out inland waters or submerged areas.