Many find it weird why focus was on an uncontested area instead of the West Philippine Sea where Filipinos are increasingly frustrated over the seemingly inadequate response of the Philippines to China’s relentless intrusions into our exclusive economic zone.

But the attention drawn last week to the Philippine Rise, formerly called Benham Rise, when President Duterte led the send-off of Filipino scientists to do a six-month research in the area has undoubtedly become a source of pride and great hope that our country would indeed never give up on what is rightfully ours.

“Tingin ko napadala naman niya ang mensahe niya sa buong daigdig na tanging Pilipino lamang ang makikinabang sa Philippine Rise (I think he sent the message to the whole world that only Filipinos would benefit from Philippine Rise),” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

The Philippine Rise stirred public awareness last year when Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed that Chinese survey ships had a prolonged stay in the area, igniting suspicions the ships were there not only for “innocent passage” as claimed by Chinese authorities.

The Philippine Navy then deployed its warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz to form part of intensified patrols over the 13-million-hectare undersea region rich in biodiversity, minerals, and gas deposits off eastern Luzon. Many fear that our exclusive sovereign rights over the area – recognized in April 2012 by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as part of the continental shelf of the Philippines – might suffer the same fate as that of other areas in our EEZ. The recent send-off somehow allays that fear.

“Today we send off our team of talented and competent Filipino scientists who will undertake the coordinated national marine scientific research in the waters above the Philippine Rise,” President Duterte said at the May 15 ceremonial send-off onboard the BRP Davao del Sur ship anchored at Casiguran Bay off Aurora province.

Stressing that the efforts of the scientists are “vital to the protection and management of Philippine Rise and its vast resources,” the President also signed a proclamation formally declaring a marine reserve in the area, considering that the Philippines has been “entrusted with the responsibility to protect it from abuse and misuse.”

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/05/21/rising-to-protect-philippine-rise/