The House Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday, July 7 approved the substitute bill of the measure that seeks to declare a portion of the Philippine Rise as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) even after two members of the panel got locked into a very heated debate.

House Bill No. 36 or the proposed Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR) Act, which was authored by Muntinlupa Representative Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon, was approved by the panel chaired by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga despite the objection of Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza.

The bill primarily aims to protect portions of the Philippine Rise region, namely the Benham Bank and its surrounding waters, through sustainable and participatory management and in consideration of all applicable laws and international treaties to which the country is signatory.

While areas outside the strict protection zone would be designated as the Multi-Use Zone and the Special Fisheries Management Area (SFMA) in accordance to Republic Act No. 11038.

The bill seeks to establish a Special Fisheries Management Area within the PRMRR which will be under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which is under the Department of Agriculture.

But during the hearing, Atienza raised maritime concerns questioning whether it would be to the Philippines’ advantage to limit the intentions of the bill to a small area in the event China reasserts its presence in the area and declare it as part of its territorial or historical claims.

“I do not agree that we should limit our claim to a portion or an area as defined in this amended version,” Atienza told Barzaga.

Biazon clarified, however, there is no limitation being done and that the passage of the measure in its form “is in no way a surrender of what was granted to us, our rights over the Benham Rise or the Philippine Rise.”

The Muntinlupa solon said declaring the area a marine preserve would give the Philippines more opportunity to exploit the natural resources that can be found within the Benham Rise—a 13-million hectare underwater plateau off Aurora province which is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Barzaga sided with Biazon but Atienza accused the panel chair of railroading the passage of the bill, a matter which Barzaga vehemently denied.

The Cavite lawmaker stressed that the committee has taken up what was already discussed during by the technical working group (TWG) meeting.

“We are not railroading, this is the rule of the majority,” Barzaga during his retort against Atienza.

Atienza, on the other hand, called out Barzaga for barring him from raising critical points on the issue, accusing him of not allowing a free discussion on the issue, which he said, may be detrimental to the Filipino people in the future.

Barzaga denied this, saying he had already provided enough time for Atienza and the other members of the panel to speak about the issue, saying the former Manila city mayor, did not attend the TWG meetings on the bill. He then called for a suspension of the hearing.

When the panel resumed, voted and approved the meaure, the Deputy Speaker vowed to raise his points on the floor when the bill reaches the plenary.