Government urged to boost protection of Philippine Rise

MANILA, Philippines — The government should step up efforts to protect and utilize the resource-rich Philippine Rise to bolster the country’s fisheries production, a fishers’ organization said following sightings of Chinese research vessels in the area.

Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) claimed the government’s “constant failure” to preserve and maximize the resources of the underwater plateau formerly known as Benham Rise makes it vulnerable to foreign poachers and exploitation. 

“The Philippine government does not prioritize maximizing these bountiful resources for our national industry and food security,” PAMALAKAYA national chairperson Fernando Hicap said in a statement Monday.

The Philippine Rise sits off the country’s east coast, and is said to be rich in biodiversity, fish stocks and gas deposits. The 13-million-hectare area is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and the country’s extended continental shelf.

PAMALAKAYA stressed that the Philippine Rise contributes significantly to local fisheries despite its distance to mainland Luzon. 

“There are many good species of fish caught in the provinces of Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, Quezon and Bicol that come from the Philippine Rise. So fisherfolk and a large part of the population will definitely benefit if this area is protected,” Hicap said.

According to former agriculture chief Emmanuel Piñol, the Philippine Rise was declared as a “protected food supply exclusive zone.”

Last week, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed a patrol vessel to the Philippine Rise after two Chinese research vessels were seen “loitering” northeast of the area.

Hicap called for regular maritime patrols to prevent poachers and other foreign exploration activities as well as support for local research and development to explore the oil and mineral potentials of the Philippine Rise. 

In 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order renaming Benham Rise to Philippine Rise to emphasize the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area.