House bill to declare part of PH Rise a protected area
A Mindanao lawmaker has filed House Bill (HB) No. 5687 declaring a large part of the Philippine Rise, formerly known as Benham Rise, a protected area.
The Benham Bank and its neighboring waters will be known as Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve when it becomes a protected area under the proposed Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.
House Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said in a statement that the Philippine Rise could be managed and explored for its marine resources once the bill is passed into law.
“Monitoring and maintaining the high biodiversity and near pristine habitats in the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve will contribute to sustainable fisheries productivity and ecosystem services for present and future generations of Filipinos,” he stressed.
In HB 5687, it indicated the geographic coordinates of Benham Bank, which is composed of 352,390 hectares. The Philippine Rise is believed to be more than 24 million hectares.
The lawmaker said most of the Philippine Rise, including Benham Bank, is within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
He added that Filipinos conduct fishing activities in the area, “but the state of its habitats and biodiversity must be closely monitored to ensure the sustainability of the resources therein".
At present, Rodriguez noted the maritime patrols being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in protecting Filipino fishermen and enforcing fisheries laws.
Aside from designating Benham Bank as a protected area, the proposed measure would provide additional funds for these agencies.
“Most importantly, passing the bill is an exercise of Philippine sovereignty over our waters and the resources therein,” the House leader said.
In filing the bill, Rodriguez sought to establish a Philippine Rise Marine Resource Protected Area Management Board that will serve as the policy-making body for the management of Benham Bank.
The management board will be composed of the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); the chairpersons of the Senate committee on environment, natural resources and climate change and the House committee on natural resources; and representatives from BFAR, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Other members of the board are the representatives from the Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense (DND-OCD), PNP Maritime Group, National Security Council, National Coast Watch Council Secretariat, Department of Foreign Affairs Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, AFP, and PCG.
Four representatives from non-government organizations accredited by the DENR, four from academic institutions and one from the private fishing sector would also sit in the board.
Some of the prohibited acts under the bill include poaching, dumping of toxic waste, use of destructive gears, and hindering law enforcement.
Violators may face a fine of up to P5 million and imprisonment of up to six years.