Duterte renames Benham Rise to Philippine Rise

President Rodrigo Duterte has made good on his promise to rename Benham Rise to Philippine Rise.

Duterte signed Executive Order No. 25 on May 16 to change the name of the undersea region, after Chinese research vessels were spotted surveying the region although it was on the other side of the contested South China Sea.

The Philippine Rise, a 13-million hectare undersea plateau off Aurora province, is part of the country's exclusive economic zone.

Duterte ordered the National Mapping and Resource Information Area (NAMRIA) to make the changes on official maps and charts of the Philippines.

The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, and other related agencies, is expected to inform international bodies about the new name of potentially oil-rich territory. —ALG, GMA News