Protection of PHL's Benham Rise vs. foreign incursion urged

An international environmental group has urged the establishment of a management framework for the protection of the Philippines' ecologically-rich Benham Rise, in light of recent news of unauthorized foreign incursion in the area.

Oceana expressed alarm over reports of foreign survey vessels in the region, which is located just east of Luzon and is recognized as Philippine territory by the United Nations' Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLOS).

The resource-rich Benham Rise spans some 24.4 million hectares—about the same size as Luzon, according to Oceana.

"Benham Rise is an important marine resource for Filipinos, and holds tremendous potential for discovering more unique species and outstanding samples of marine resources.  We need to prioritize its protection, including the pristine Benham Bank as a no-take zone," said lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice-President for Oceana Philippines in a press statement.

"We urge the government to expedite the formulation of the management framework for Benham Rise to protect and sustainably manage it," she added.

Such a management framework should encompass biodiversity conservation, fisheries, and commercial and economic activities.

Oceana's statement follows on the heels of reports of a Chinese vessel surveying Benham Rise.

"We are concerned about the presence of a Chinese ship in Benham Rise, which has been recognized by the United Nations as part of the Philippines," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Friday, March 10.

"The Department of National Defense has already notified the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding this matter as we continue to assert our sovereignty over our territory," he added. — GMA News