The Senate Committee on Economic Affairs on Tuesday, March 15 formed a technical working group (TWG) to iron-out various concepts and proposals on how to develop the energy rich 24-million hectare undersea Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) off eastern Luzon.

This came after Senator Imee Marcos, committee chairman, conducted a hybrid committee hearing on her and Senator Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara’s bills seeking the creation of the Philippine Rise Development Authority (PRDA).

President Duterte had ordered the area to be protected from external threats. He also gave a go-signal to conduct extensive research and exploration of the area to tap and accelerate the development of the Philippine Rise particularly on its potential to be a rich source of alternative energy, marine resources and as a possible tourism destination.

The Philippine Rise is a ‘’tuna highway’’ where the expensive Blue Fin Tuna and other marine products could be found and caught, according to Eduardo Gongona, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

West of the Philippine Rise is the nearby Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APEZA) in Aurora province. It is labelled as a green economic zone situated along the Pacific Northeast seaboard.

Operating as the "gateway", it serves as solution to countries located and near the Pacific region in lessening the challenges paves by long distance travel such as fuel and labor expenses. Its strategic location permits navigation to the Pacific Region and serves as a critical entry point for neighboring countries; thereby an ideal base business.

During the hearing, Marcos raised the issue of overlapping jurisdictions among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in terms of handling concessions concerning the Philippine Rise.

In the case of DENR, Marcos pointed out that there are existing regimes which do not look the same as the DOE and would not “succumb” to the authority of the DFA.

“I hereby instruct the Committee Secretary to put together a TWG (Technical Working Group) to address the concerns that only have been preliminarily raised, particularly the competing jurisdictions. I hope this would be resolved as soon as possible because we know that the situation in the area is very volatile and we cannot leave the issue unaddressed,” Marcos said.

The lady lawmaker impressed upon the government officials to submit as soon as possible their position papers for discussions at the TWG for eventual submission for floor debate and probable passage into law.

The Senate and the House of Representatives adjourn sine die on June 4 and end the 18th Congress.

In the explanatory note of her bill, Marcos said an effective institutional mechanism is imperative to be established to address the need for an Integrated approach in the formulation and implementation of various development plans, programs, and projects that will optimize the full potential of the Philippine Rise.

‘’Thus, this bill seeks to create the Philippine Rise Resource Development Authority which shall promote, coordinate, and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect the exploration, study, utilization, and development of the Philippine Rise. The Authority shall also be the lead agency to enforce the rights of the State over the area, including the conduct of research and exploration," Marcos said.