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Manila Bulletin devider devider President Duterte to grace celebration at Benham Rise

President Duterte to grace celebration at Benham Rise

Published May 14, 2018 10:43 am
By Francis Wakefield The awarding of the Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise) to the Philippines will be commemorated this coming May 15 to 16, 2018 (Tuesday and Wednesday) in the province of Aurora by the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Northern Luzon Command (AFP-NoLCom). No less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other dignitaries from the National Government and Agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), AFP and other stakeholders, are expected to grace the activities. Underwater Treasure – After President Rodrigo Roa Duterte asserted yesterday the country’s sovereign rights over the 13-million hectare Philippine Rise, all marine exploration and studies by foreign scientists will be barred by Philippine authorities. Only Filipino scientists will be allowed to research work in the area. (Photo courtesy of Oceana/UPLB) (Photo courtesy of Oceana/UPLB / MANILA BULLETIN) AFP NoLCom Spokesman and Public Information Office chief Lt. Col. Isagani Nato said the activities for this celebration will include the Send-Off of an All-Filipino Scientists who will do the Maritime Scientific Research in the Philippine Rise; the casting of buoy made by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as floating marker; laying of another marker at the shallowest point in Benham Plateau; and fly-by of aircrafts of different agencies conducting Maritime Air Patrol in the area. Nato said this will be the second time that the Northern Luzon Command will celebrate this momentous occasion, since Independence Day last year, June 12, wherein a simultaneous underwater flag hoisting and on-deck flag raising was conducted onboard BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) of the Philippine Navy (the newest and largest Navy ship). A marker, with the Philippine flag, was also laid at the underwater plateau about 70 feet below sea level symbolizing our ownership to that part of the Philippine Rise Region. Nato said the leadership of NoLCom will remain committed to doing its mandate of protecting our people and securing our sovereign territory within its area of responsibility that includes the vast Northern Maritime area covering the Bajo De Masinloc, Luzon Strait, and Philippine Rise. The Philippine Rise it was recalled was discovered by Benjamin Benham in 1933. On May 16, 2017, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 25 renaming the feature to “Philippine Rise”, The Philippine Rise is a seismically active undersea region and extinct volcanic ridge located in the Philippine Sea approximately 250 km (160 mi) east of the northern coastline of Dinapigue, Isabela. The Rise has been known to the people of Catanduanes as Kalipung-awan since pre-colonial times.
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