Senator tells DFA to make public Benham Rise permit given to China

SENATOR MARIA Lourdes Nancy S. Binay has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the details of the permit given to Chinese oceanographers to conduct scientific research in Benham Rise.

“In the interest of transparency, it would be best for the DFA to share to the public the extent of the study, research and exploration of China in Benham Rise. And since it is the DFA which approves or disapproves scientific researches in both the West and East Philippine Seas, it is only appropriate if they could provide a list of all Filipino- and foreign-led expeditions in our waters since 2010,” she said in a statement Thursday.

The DFA earlier granted the request of the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO-CAS) to conduct a maritime scientific research in Benham Rise together with the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI).

Benham Rise became part of the Philippines’ continental shelf in 2012 following the ruling of the United Nations that the country has sovereign rights over the 13 million hectare resource-rich underwater plateau off the country’s eastern coast.

It has been renamed to Philippine Rise by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 to assert the country’s jurisdiction over the area.

Ms. Binay said her request to DFA regarding permits given for maritime research is in connection with the senate’s job to review the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreements (FTAA) entered into by the Philippine government.

She added that the Philippines must be “cautious and sparing in giving approval for explorations,” taking note that the interest of the Filipino people should be prioritized.

“Our foreign partners should first acknowledge and recognize our territorial integrity and sovereignty over our waters — and that’s non-negotiable,” she said. — Camille A. Aguinaldo