MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte asserted the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the Philippine Rise but did not make good on his promise to visit the undersea region on Tuesday.
He does not distinguish between “sovereign rights” and “sovereignty” because the undersea region is within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, said the President.
“I no longer talk about sovereign [territory] or sovereign rights. I do not make any distinction. Basta umabot iyan ng [Exclusive] Economic Zone namin, amin iyan,” Duterte said.
On May 16 last year Duterte issued Executive Order No. 25 renaming Benham Rise as Philippine Rise.
The President sent off on Tuesday some 50 scientists to “undertake the coordinated national marine scientific research in the waters above the Philippine Rise.”
For six months the scientists will conduct mapping surveys, biological investigations, and assessment of the coral reef and fishery stock.
Their scientific research will be “vital to the protection and management of Philippine Rise and its vast resources,” Duterte said.
“I have complete faith in the capabilities of our world-class scientists, and I recognize the need to provide them with the necessary means to fulfill [their] mandate,” he said.
But the President himself did not visit the undersea region – as he promised weeks ago and as his spokesman, Harry Roque, assured last week.
He delivered a speech at BRP Davao del Sur docked in Casiguran, Aurora and left before the ship could sail to the Philippine Rise.
Visiting the area was not feasible, Roque explained.
“Ang Philippine Rise po is the continental shelf po under the water so hindi mo siya physically mabibisita,” he said. “Mapupuntahan mo lang iyong tubig na nasa ibabaw.”
What the President said, that he would sail to the undersea region, was meant to be symbolic, said Roque.
“Tingin ko napadala na niya ang mensahe niya sa buong daigdig na tanging Pilipino lamang ang makikinabang sa Philippine Rise,” said the spokesman.
Duterte also issued a proclamation “formally declaring parts of this undersea feature as a marine reserve.”
Under the proclamation, around 50,000 hectares of the Philippine Rise shall become a Strict Protection Zone, which is limited only to scientific studies by Filipinos at this time.
More than 300 hectares shall be designated as a “special fisheries management area,” the proclamation stated./PN
