Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol announced Tuesday/May 9 that President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved his proposal of renaming Benham Rise into Philippine Rise.

“In addition, Pres. Duterte declared Philippine Rise as Protected Food Supply Exclusive Zone,” Piñol said.

With this declaration, the Philippines will no longer allow mining or oil exploration in the 13 million-hectare Philippine Rise.

“I defended to the President that rather than focus on searching for mining or oil activities (in the Philippine Rise), we have to protect it because I see a P25-billion (food supply) potential there,” Piñol said.

The DA Secretary said the President also approved his proposal for the Philippine government to establish a facility in the shallowest portion called the Benham Bank, including a big cold storage as the region has been proven to be rich source of yellow fin tuna.

He said President Duterte ordered him to facilitate the study on the availability of establishing a structure in the Philippine Rise.

“This will serve as research facility and advance command post center in the area to avoid rampant cases of illegal fishing,” Piñol stressed.

He noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had established from its own studies that the Philippines loses $30 billion every year from illegal fishing and poaching. ### (DA-OSEC)

Reference:
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol

Photo caption:  BENHAM RISE IS OURS 
MV DA-BFAR crewmembers plant a Philippine flag over a payao or fish aggregating device in Benham Bank, leaving behind a mark for the world to see. (Photo by DA-BFAR)