Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Communication
Department of Advertising and Public Relations
Sta. Mesa, Manila
Mabini Campus

Benham Rise

Espinosa, Patricia Sacha

Hernandez, Zharina
Piquero, Galilea
Santos, Aira Nicole
Santos, Gabriela
Sison, Joyce
Tisado, Deirdre
Toralba, Catherine
Tura, Mark Leomides
Urera, Ma. Delmar
Benham Rise

NAME: Benham

Benham Plateau

Benham Park

Named after the American geologist Andrew Benham who discovered the continental shelf, the
area was mapped in 1933 but its connection to the Philippine shelf was validated only recently to justify
the countys economic claim. Despite its proximity to the archipelago, the plateau was previously not
included in the territory of the Philippine Islands. On 8 April 2009, the Republic of the Philippines lodged
a full territorial waters claim with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
in relation to the continental shelf in the region of Benham Rise. It was submitted as part of petition
expanding the archipelago's baselines and exclusive economic zone through a law that also included
other claims involving disputed territories of the Kalayaan Islands (Spratly Islands) and Scarborough
Shoal. Although the off shore landform, in itself, is not disputed, the petition still received some criticism
inside and outside the country because of its controversial nature. According to the government's claim,
based on a set of guidelines by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, the area satisfies
the 350-mile constraint line since the outer limits of the continental shelf are located landward of the
constraint line, which is located 350 miles from the baselines where the measurement of the breadth of
the territorial sea begins. Benham Rise was never a subject to any maritime boundary disputes and
claims. The Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act No. 9522, also known as the Archipelagic
Baselines Law, which is the basis of the claim. According to the document, the region is bounded by the
Philippine Basin on the north and east, and by Luzon on the west and south. It asserted that, according
to scientific data based on seismic, magnetic, other geological features, the Benham Rise region is an
extension of the Philippines continental shelf.

LOCATION: East of Luzon

Dinapigue, Isabela

COORDINATES: 119 30 E to 132 00 E

12 10 N to 20 30 N latitude

SIZE: 13 Million hectares: Benham Rise

30 Million hectares: Philippines

43 Million hectares: New Philippine territory

BENEFITS FOR PHILIPPINES:

ADDITIONAL TERRITORY OF 43%

Benham Rise: PH's new territory off Aurora

Bigger than Luzon, the 13-M hectare Benham Rise has been approved by the UN as part of
Philippine territory

MANILA, Philippines Imagine an area bigger than the Philippines' biggest island, Luzon, that
potentially contains steel-producing minerals and natural gas for domestic consumption or
exportation.

This is Benham Rise, a 13-million hectare area off the coast of Aurora province, which the
United Nations (UN) recently confirmed as part of the Philippines' continental shelf and
territory. (READ: Filipinos conquer new territory: Benham Rise)

UNDERWATER PLATEAU. Found near Aurora, the 13-million hectare Benham Rise is part of
Philippine territory. Screen grab from a document the Philippines submitted to UN

We own Benham Rise now, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in a media
interview, quoted in a Philippine Daily Inquirer story Saturday, April 28. This is for future
Filipinos.
Unlike Scarborough Shoal and other portions of the South China Sea, no other country claims
the area that is almost a quarter bigger than the 10.5-million hectare Luzon.

The UN approval means Benham Rise, an underwater plateau by definition, is an extension of

the Philippines' continental shelf, an area rich in living and non-living resources like minerals
and gas.

Based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the continental shelf comprises
the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas 200 nautical miles (NM), or 370 kilometers, from
a State's baselines or edges. Parts of the continental shelf that are not covered by the 200 NM
provision, according to UNCLOS, need to be claimed and defended before the UN Commission
on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS).

The UNCLCS approved Benham Rise as the Philippines' extended continental shelf 3 years after
the country filed a claim and defended it before the UN commission. (The UNCLCS was formed
under UNCLOS.)

CONTINENTAL SHELF. This is a diagram of a continental shelf in its classical definition. UP's
Jay Batongbacal, however, says Benham Rise is different because it is an independent feature, an
underwater plateau, attached to the normal continental shelf. Screen grab from 'Continental
Shelf: The Last Maritime Zone,' www.unep.org

It is now up to the Philippines to enact a law or executive order establishing the boundaries of its
continental shelf, marine law expert Jay Batongbacal told Rappler.

More resources

With this, he said, the Philippines can explore and exploit resources in a bigger area of seabed.

The larger your shelf, the larger your potential resources are, explained Batongbacal, a
University of the Philippines professor who took part in the technical team that prepared and
defended the Philippines' claim over Benham Rise.
Batongbacal said based on two initial samplings in the area, Benham Rise keeps a large amount
of heavy metals like manganese, whose accumulation into manganese nodules can help in the
production of steel, among other things.

Considering the area is a seabed, which is known to contain gas hydrates, Benham Rise is also
potentially a rich source of natural gas, he said.

He noted, however, that Benham Rise which is 2,000 to 5,000 meters deep has not really
been explored.

In an earlier interview, Paje trumpeted the region's oil-rich potential. We've been saying this in
the past. This country can provide for its own energy, the secretary said.

He added it can also open opportunities for the Philippines to export natural gas.

FIRST VICTORY. This is the Philippines' first victory for territorial claims under the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea. Screen grab from a document the Philippines submitted to
UN

First for PH

This is the Philippines' first successful validation of a territorial claim under UNCLOS,
according to a paper on Benham Rise prepared by parties privy to the claim.

UNCLOS, incidentally, is the same UN convention the Philippines is invoking in its ongoing
dispute with China over Scarborough Shoal. (Read: Scarborough Shoal according to Manila,
Beijing.)

Regarding Scarborough Shoal, China has repeatedly rejected the Philippines' invitation to bring
the two countries' dispute to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, another body
formed under UNCLOS.

Batongbacal, for his part, sees hope in the recent UN approval. (Below is the information the
Philippines submitted to the UN in claiming Benham Rise.)
Benham Rise: Philippines's new territory

Divers touch and collect data on benthic life from the bottom of Benham Rise, a new Philippine
territory off the eastern coast of Aurora province. File photo/Benham Rise Program
LOS BAOS, Laguna, Philippines The Philippines has gained a new territory through the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)s ruling on the 13 million-hectare
Benham Rise.
Situated about 250 kilometers east of Dinapigue, Isabela, the region also known as Benham
Plateau has untapped natural resources and is said to be wider than Luzon, Samar and Leyte
combined.
Until 2012, this seismically active underwater region and extinct volcanic ridge had not been
included as part of the archipelago, despite the Philippines being the only country within 200
nautical miles of the plateau.
Historical data sourced from Wikipedia show that the plateau is named after American admiral
and geologist Andrew Benham. It was first mapped in 1933, long before it was to be
acknowledged as part of the Philippine continental shelf.
Eventually, on April 8, 2001, in compliance with the requirements of UNCLOS, the Philippines
lodged a partial territorial claim on the vast, largely unexplored territory with the UN
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS).
In April 2009, the Philippines went further by lodging a full territorial claim that Benham Rise
was part of its continental shelf and territory.
The Philippine claim was embodied in Republic Act No. 9522 or the Archipelagic Baselines
Law.
The UN, through UNCLOS, finally recognized and officially approved the Philippine claim on
the territory on April 12, 2012.
The awarding of Benham Rise to the Philippines brought to 43 million hectares the total land
area of the country from 30 million hectares.
Benham Rise has been part of ancient Filipino culture. Ancient Catanduanes (Bicol region, to
Benhams south) people fished and roamed the area long before colonial times, Wikipedia noted.
In recent years, several scientific surveys have been conducted on Benham Rise.
The Philippine government has also been exploring the possibility of mapping new gas fields on
the ridge.
Aside from the expansion of territory, the Philippines will also benefit from mineral and gas
deposits in the region.
Initial research findings have shown that there are massive mineral and gas deposits in the
plateau. Furthermore, solidified methane was found during mapping operations. Hence, the
region is believed to have vast oil deposits.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara has said the underwater region in the Philippine Sea is a good
alternative for the Malampaya gas fields.
Two years ago, a government-funded exploration and survey were conducted at Benham Bank,
the plateaus shallowest part about 50 meters deep, on the research vessel of the Department of
Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).
The program, billed Exploration, Mapping and Assessment of Deep Water Areas, was funded
by the Los Baos-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). It
was headed by Cesar Villanoy with Carlos Primo David and Hildie Maria Nacorda as project
leaders.
The program is being implemented by the University of the Philippines Diliman-Marine Science
Institute, UPD-National Institute of Geological Sciences and UPLB-School of Environmental
Science and Management.
A collaboration among UP Diliman, UPLB and DA-BFAR, the program was backstopped by
scientists, researchers and seasoned dive specialists from UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, Xavier
University and Ateneo de Manila University and from the local diving industry.
The pioneering research project initiated the assessment of the benthic marine biological features
and resources of the Benham Bank seamount, contributing to efforts to document deep-water
biodiversity in the Philippines.
Knowledge about these features and resources may also be linked to the productivity of the
Benham Rise region, where fishing activities have been known to occur even before the country
was awarded the claim, Villanoy and Ma. Adela Corpuz said in a joint report.
Results of the survey, they added, include identification of four species of Halimeda and 15
genera of associated epiphytic algae and corals.
These data and other related scientific information will input to the knowledge/status of the
Philippine deep sea biodiversity, resource planning and management, Villanoy and Corpuz said.
The exploration of Benham Rise is one of the many researches and development institutions on
aquatic concerns supported by DOST-PCAARRD.

Benham Rise
SCIENTISTS from government agencies and the private sector are scheduled to hold next week
an interagency oceanographic exploration in the Benham Rise Region (BRR)the countrys
newest territory 250 kilometers off Aurora and Isabela provincesin order to further explore the
Benham Bank, and discover its secrets.

Experts and other stakeholders are pooling their resources for the exploration, with the hope of
coming up with an informed decision on how to best manage the new Philippine territory, which
is bigger than Luzon, Samar and Leyte combined. The shallowest portion of the underground at
the Benham Bank is estimated to be 35 meters from the surface. It is believed to be rich in oil,
natural gas and other minerals, such as manganese.
This will be the fourth official oceanographic exploration to be conducted in the area, after the
territorial claim by the Philippines was approved by the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (Unclos) in April 2012. The Unclos, an international agreement in which the
Philippines is a party, defines the limits of territorial seas of countries where they can exploit
marine resources.

The inclusion of the BRR in the countrys continental shelf and territory was approved by the
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf of the United Nations on April 12, 2012,
including part of the seabed that extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the countrys baseline,
covering a seabed area of 52,340 square miles. The government hopes to benefit from the
massive mineral and gas deposits in the region to achieve complete energy sufficiency.
Fishing ground

Research teams from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(DA-BFAR) have been visiting the BRR for years as part of their efforts to determine the
territorys potential to boost fisheries production.

Being a traditional fishing ground and a spawning area for commercially viable fish,
environmental groups see the need to come up with a sustainable management framework for the
BRR to give stakeholders strong participation. More than oil, natural gas and other mineral
resources, the countrys top fishery official sees the BRR as a major fishing ground that needs to
be protected.

Preliminary research conducted by scientists as early as 2013 revealed that the Benham Bank is a
spawning ground of assorted fish, including the Pacific Bluefin tuna.

Two weeks ago, our research vessel [MV DA-BFAR] set sail for the Benham Rise. Next week
the DA-BFAR team will go back to the area with scientists from UP Marine Science Institute
[UP MSI], Director Asis G. Perez, head of the DA-BFAR, told the BusinessMirror in a
telephone interview on Tuesday.
Hot spot

Environmentalists pushing for sustainable management of the Benham Rise also warned that the
area is an emerging fisheries hot spot owing to poachers from neighboring countries, unless a
more stringent protection mechanism is adopted.

Participants of a multistakeholder forum cosponsored by not-for-profit Oceana Philippines at the

University of the Philippines last month resounded the call for its protection and conservation
against overfishing and other destructive fishing methods.
For environmental advocates, exploring new ecological frontiers within the countrys territory
offers an opportunity to craft a management framework before losing the natural resources from
overexploitation and unbriddled development that will potentially harm the network of marine
ecosystem in the vast territory, conservation-advocacy group Oceana Philippines Vice President
Gloria Estenzo-Ramos told the BusinessMirror in an interview on Tuesday.

For us, of course, we see an opportunity of leaning toward ocean conservation. This is a new
territory, and there is no management framework yet for the Benham Rise. Exploring the
Benham Rise, will help the government and other stakeholders to come up with an idea on how it
is best protected, she said.

In May 2014 scientists from the UP MSI were able to reach the bottom of the Benham Bank, the
shallowest portion of the Benham Rise, and were able to take photographs and videos of what is
beneath its pristine blue waters.

Using a not-so-high-tech gadget, such as a waterproof digital camera, scientists were able to
document and record the exciting new discoveries in the Benham Bank, which is now being eyed
to be declared as a no-take zone.

Benham Rise of 13 Million Hectares to be the New Philippines Territory

Benham Rise - the Natural Gas & Solid Methane Treasure Rich Undersea New Philippines
Territory
The Philippines will gain 13 million hectares in additional territory, an area slightly smaller than
Luzon, should the United Nations approve next year (2012) the government's claim on a region
off the coast of Isabela and Aurora, Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje said on Monday
(August 15, 2011).
Benham Rise was found off the coast of Aurora province, Northeastern part of Luzon Island and
is part of the Philippine continental shelf and its 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone.
With just the Pacific Ocean to the east, Hawaii is probably the next closest island.
Benham Rise, also known as Benham Plateau, is a 13-million hectare undersea region east of
Luzon. It is enclosed by the coordinates 11930'E to 13200'E and 1210'N to 2030'N latitude.
The plateau is a massive formation of basalt, a common volcanic rock, and is described in a
study as a thickened portion of the Philippine Sea plate's oceanic crust.
Another research notes the similarity of the shape of Benham Rise to the sharp bend of the
Luzon coastline, which suggests the sea floor's resistance to subduction (the process by which
one plate on the earth's crust is pushed downward beneath another plate because of collision) that
may have affected the Philippine fault.
The formation lies within the continental shelf of the Philippines as defined by the 1982 UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Under the UNCLOS, a coastal state's exclusive economic zone extends 370 kilometers (200
nautical miles) from its continental shelf, while its extended continental shelf extends for another
278 km (150 nautical miles).
Paje said the undersea region, called Benham Rise, could turn the Philippines into a natural gas
exporter because of the area's huge methane deposits.
Studies conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the
past five years indicate large deposits of methane in solid form, Paje said after a Senate budget
hearing.
The government is only awaiting a formal declaration from the UN Convention of the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS) that Benham Rise is on the country's continental shelf and therefore part of its
territory, Paje said.
Philippines Legal basis of Expansion
Once the UNCLOS establishes that Benham Rise is part of the Philippines, "we would have legal
basis to enter into exploration agreements with private companies to explore (the area's)
resources," said Sen. Franklin Drilon, chair of the chamber's finance committee.
Drilon said a favorable UNCLOSs declaration would mean "increasing the Philippines territory
from present 30 million hectares to possibly 43 million hectares" with the inclusion of Benham
Rise.
Discussion over Benham Rise generated excitement especially after Paje said that Philippine
representatives were just awaiting one more meeting "to answer questions" before a special
Unclos committee.
Philippines as a sole claimant
Paje said there was no reason for the UNCLOS committee not to issue a decision favorable to the
country "since we are the only claimant, unlike in the western side (where the Spratly Islands
are)."
"We have submitted a claim under (UNCLOS) sometime in late 2008. We got a reply from the
UN lately (asking us) to answer some questions. They intend to pass a resolution sometime in
mid-2012 to approve our claim (that it is) part of the Philippine continental shelf," Paje told
reporters after the hearing.
Records showed that the Philippines officially submitted a claim with the UN Commission on
the Limits of the Continental Shelf in New York on April 8, 2009.
Davide submission
Hilario Davide, then Philippine ambassador to the United Nations, filed the country's partial
submission with the commission.
The United Nations says the continental shelf is "the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas
that extend beyond its territorial sea" up to 370 km (200 nautical miles) from the archipelagic
baseline. An extended continental shelf goes farther than 370 km.
The Philippines claims that Benham Rise is an extension of its continental shelf.
Paje said Benham Rise was within the country's 370-km exclusive economic zone.
American geologist
The environment secretary said an American geologist surnamed Benham discovered the area
that was between 40 and 2,000 meters below the waterline in 1933.

"But we are able to define categorically that it is attached to our continental shelf only recently.
We have proven (to) UNCLOS that it is attached. So now the UN is considering it for decision
sometime in 2012," Paje said.
He said gas deposits in the area would enable the country to achieve energy sufficiency.
"Benham Rise is very relevant because of its gas deposits (which has been) confirmed
particularly by (the) National Mapping Resource Information Agency. It has given us the data
that (the area) contains solid methane. We have not explored it but we have found nodules of
methane in the surface and this is very important to us," he said.
Kalayaan, Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal)
The Kalayaan Island Group, which is part of the disputed Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal,
both located in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) and claimed by the Philippines, are
also believed to contain oil and natural gas.
Paje said there was the possibility that the country could export gas in the future.
The secretary added that there would be a demand for gas deposits in Benham Rise "because it's
much cleaner than (other) fossil fuels."
The DENR formally submitted its proposed 16.99-Billion budget for 2012 to the Senate finance
committee.

FOOD, MEDICINE, SALT

Salt:

Benham Plateau also known as the Benham Rise (with coordinates 1193OE to 132OOE and
121ON to 2O3ON latitude),is a 13 million hectare under sea region east of Luzon and is 35
meters underwater at its shallowest point off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela. It is delimited
by the West Philippine Basin to the north and east. It is a seismically active undersea region and
extinct volcanic ridge east of the Philippines, in the Philippine Sea which lies a number of Basins
including the West Philippine Basin (WPB) of which inside the Basin is located the Central
Basin Fault (CBF). The Benham Plateau region is located in the CBF and its basement represents
a micro-continent. Several scientific survey analysis have been made to study its nature and its
impact on tectonic subduction, including one about its effects on the 1990 Luzon earthquake,
which devastated the northern city of Baguio. The area is solely claimed, as part of its
continental shelf, by the Republic of the Philippines, which was confirmed by the United Nations
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on April 12, 2012. Under the UNCLOS, a
coastal states exclusive economic zone extends 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles) from its
continental shelf, while its extended continental shelf extends for another 278 km (150 nautical
miles). The UN now recognizes the Philippines claim and the countrys territory has increase to
43 million hectares from 30 million hectares. The West Philippine Sea Basin is the oceanic crust
located underneath the western part of the Philippine Sea. It was formed during the early
Oligocene epoch. To its southwest is the Philippine Trench, and to its east is the Kyushu-Palau
Ridge.

Food:

Study shows major fisheries potential in Benham Rise. Benham Rise, the new Philippine
territory off Aurora, holds a lot of potentials in terms of marine diversity based on a week-long
expedition.

ABS-CBN reported that an expedition from May 23 to 31 by marine scientists from the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the University of the Philippines, and Oceana Philippines
revealed terraces of corals as far as the eye could see.

Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president for Oceana Philippines, said she foresees government and
stakeholders working together to protect and manage Benham Rise. The scientists conducted the
study on board the MV DA-BFAR. They took five hours worth of footage on fish diversity.
Earlier, another expert doubted claims that Benham Rise could be a major fishing ground for
tuna, because it is not a part of the route traveled by sardines, which are a main food of tuna fish.
As early as 2013, fish aggregating devices have been put up on the Benham Rise, Perez said.
Fishermen are now enjoying increased productivity by using ropes and biomass like coconut
leaves to attract schools of fish, and eventually larger fish with high commercial value, he said.
Schooling or shoaling, the process of attracting small fishes, will attract bigger fish in one area,
such as tuna, which demand or domestic consumption and export is huge, will make fishing a
breeze, he said. A team of Filipino experts conducted an exploration from May 3 to 18 and
examined the marine life in the plateau. Fishing activities have occurred in Benham Rise even
before the Philippines was officially awarded its territorial claim. The exploration was a
collaboration among University of the Philippines Diliman, UP Los Banos and Department of
Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR). Researchers, scientists,
seasoned dive specialists from UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, Xavier University, Ateneo de Manila
University as well as from the local diving industry have joined forces for this expedition. The
team discovered 120 percent coral cover. The National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority (NAMRIA) said the plateau is a shallow bathymetric feature that towers above the
adjacent deep ocean floor with Benham Bank, the shallowest part that measures 50 meters
deep.So far, we have anecdotal reports that fishermen from Aurora and nearby areas are now
benefiting from these fish-aggregating device we have put up, he said.
Commercial fishing

Fishermen in Aurora province have been reporting that they were also seeing foreign poachers
and fishing fleets, usually owned by Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, roaming around the area.

Pamalakaya criticized the government for neglecting to prevent foreign poachers from exploiting
the waters that are supposedly for the Filipino fishermen.

The government and concerned agencies should block the entry of any foreign-owned fishing
fleets to give way to small fishermen and other local fish producers to promote domestic
consumption.

We welcome the governments eagerness to open up and explore the abundance of the Benham
Rise, but we hope that its real score is not to peddle it to corporate giants who blatantly destroy
our natural resources for their profit at the expense of peoples livelihood and environmental
degradation, France said.

Fishing ground

Research teams from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(DA-BFAR) have been visiting the BRR for years as part of their efforts to determine the
territorys potential to boost fisheries production.

Being a traditional fishing ground and a spawning area for commercially viable fish,
environmental groups see the need to come up with a sustainable management framework for the
BRR to give stakeholders strong participation. More than oil, natural gas and other mineral
resources, the countrys top fishery official sees the BRR as a major fishing ground that needs to
be protected.

Preliminary research conducted by scientists as early as 2013 revealed that the Benham Bank is a
spawning ground of assorted fish, including the Pacific Bluefin tuna.
Two weeks ago, our research vessel [MV DA-BFAR] set sail for the Benham Rise. Next week
the DA-BFAR team will go back to the area with scientists from UP Marine Science Institute
[UP MSI], Director Asis G. Perez, head of the DA-BFAR, told the BusinessMirror in a
telephone interview on Tuesday.

Unexplored

Speaking mostly in Filipino, Perez said the vastly unexplored region, with experts managing to
get only a glimpse of what the new territory has to offer during previous explorations, has the
potential of increasing the countrys annual fisheries production.

He said it needed to be further explored to be able to come up with a science-based management

framework that will ensure sustainability of fish production, particularly tuna. This week, he
said, the plan is to get more valuable information, hopefully, a clearer picture of what needs to be
done by the government.

What we were able to know so far is very little compared to what we need to learn. We will
continue our exploration to get a complete picture of the Benham Rise. From there, we will be
able to craft a suitable management framework for the benefit of our fishermen, he said in
mixed Filipino and English.

Medicine/ Medical:

Rising up to the challenge to explore the Benham Rise discussed by Dr. Cesar Villanoy was one
of the topics presented by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Acquatic Resources and
Research Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) in its
SIPAG ni Juan FORA on the opening date, July 24 of the National Science and Technology
Week (NSTW) held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City from July 24 to
28,2015. The 2015 NSTW adopts the theme Philippines: A Science Nation Innovating for Global
Competitiveness. PCAARRD, on the other hand, adopts Strategic IndustryProgram for
Agricultural Growth (SIPAG) ni Juan as its theme to bolster PCAARRDs commitment to
DOSTs Outcome One. The Presentation of Benham Rise is only one of the many research and
development initiatives on aquatic concerns supported by DOST-PCAARRD. On April 12, 2012
the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf of the United Nations Adopted in full the
countrys declaration the Benham Rise as part of the Philippines Extended continental Shelf This
effectively gives the Philippines sovereignty over the Benham Rise Region which covers a
seabed area of 135,506 sq. km. The Philippines declaration over the Benham Rise has inevitably
increased the area of the countrys marine bottom habitats. The Benham Bank is the shallowest
area of the Rise and within this shallow area emerged the peak of an isolated seamount , one
among over 30,000 seamounts found in the worlds oceans. Seamount habitats can be
biodiversity hatspots because of available substrates for macrophyte and invertebrate recruitment
and settlement, abundance of food and the interaction of dynamic currents (e.g. the kuroshia)
with the supply of nutrients from the deep. PCAARRD recognizing the importance of knowing
the resources available in this new Philippine Territory for future economic benefits funded the
program Exploration Mapping and Assessment of Deep Water Areas. On May 3-18, 2014
Filipino scientist conducted the oceanographic exploration and surveys at the bank shallowest
part with a depth of 50 meters on board the research vessel M/VBFAR. The team was backed up
by researchers, scientist and seasoned dive specialists from the UP Mindanao, UP Baguio,
Xavier University Ateneo de Manila University and from the local diving industry. The
pioneering research project initiated the assessment of the benthic marine biological features and
resources of the Benham Bank Seamount contributing to the efforts of documenting deep-water
biodiversity in the Philippines. Knowledge about these features and resources may also be linked
to the productivity of the Benham Rise Region where fishing activities were done even before
the country was awarded its claim. Results of the surveys will input to the knowledge /status of
the Philippines deep sea biodiversity resources planning management It will benefit the scientific
community government line agencies tasked to manage the resource and the general public. It
will also contribute to the effective management. and scientific understanding of this globally
significant area. Researchers have recorded different and large number of species of marine life
and mineral deposits,Dr. Cesar Vilanoy said.(PScijourn MegaManila)

TOURISM

According to Oceana Philippines, the highly prized Pacific bluefin tuna spawns in the western
Pacific, including the Benham Rise.

Quoting members of the team that explored the Benham Rise, including Jose Ingles of World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, Oceana Philippines said in a news release there is a
huge potential for ecosystems preservation in the Benham Bank to protect commercially valuable
fish species. The big-eye tuna is already overfished, Ingles said, and protecting the Benham Bank
can be the countrys contribution to the global economy.
Jay Batongbacal, director of UPs Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea who was
also among the forum resource persons, was quoted by Oceana as saying that with its wealth of
marine resources, there is a need to craft a management framework for the Benham Rise.
One of the options being considered is to propose the declaration of the Benham Rise as a
marine-managed area, with the Benham Bank as the core zone with protected status, and the rest
as exploration areas.

Coral reef

Oceana Philippiness Marianne Pan-Saniano, a marine scientist, said the Benham Bank, is
blanketed with coral assemblages, sponges and algae. She added in a news release that organisms
in what is known as the mesophotic zone, found at depths of up to 150 meters, can tolerate low-
light penetration. She said the underwater plateau serves as a refuge and nursery for many
economically important fish.

Marine scientists have found more than 50 species of fish and a thick cover of tiered plate corals
were also found during the 2014 oceanographic exploration of the Benham Bank, which was
funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and
Development of the Department of Science and Technology. The dive that lasted for 25 minutes
was able to film at a depth of 50 meters, Oceana said.

There is a lot to be discovered when we do extensive research, she said.

Sophisticated gadget

As scientists explore the Benham Bank anew, Director Theresa Mundita Lim of the Biodiversity
Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
expects the discovery of more exciting marine species.

With new and more sophisticated technology, we expect to get a vivid picture of the species of
fish and other marine life, Lim said.

Oceana Philippines will provide the baited remote underwater vehicle system (BRUVS) to
measure fish population during the exploration. BRUVS is currently one of the most common
technologies used worldwide for counting and measuring the length of fish.
With a remotely operated vehicle, and technical diver-videographers in a forthcoming expedition
will allow scientists to film the marine resources in the Benham Bank more extensively, Oceana
Philippines said.

Marine biologist Euan Harvey said BRUVS uses footage from two cameras attached to a frame
with fish-bait at the center, and especially licensed software to analyze the maximum number of
fish seen at any onetime. BRUVS is useful in studying deeper reefs and doing long-term research
for a wide range of fish habitats.

Biodiversity conservation

Lim said the pooling of resources is still ongoing. This includes identification of more
sophisticated gadget or equipment, such as underground cameras, to be used during the
exploration.

We expect a report from UP-MSI. We need to get inputs about the condition underneath, she
said.

Lim said the exploration in the Benham Rise is not confined to the number or the kind of fish
species that can be found there.

Its not just about the fish. Its also about other living organisms. The corals and other marine
species thriving in the Benham Rise will help us come up with an idea of how rich is the marine
biodiversity in [the area], Lim, the countrys top biodiversity official, said in an interview on
Wednesday.

According to Lim, during exploration, scientists will be able to help the DENR-BMB build a
more accurate baseline data in the Benham Rise region.

Protection
We need to know the species we need to protect Lim, said. One of the options being
explored is to declare a portion as a protected area. But there is a process in declaring a
 protected area. We are aware that there are other resources that can be developed in the
Benham Rise. We need to balance it to identify or determine the best management option
for the Benham Rise, Lim said.

Establishing protected areas needs an extensive resource assessment, including the biodiversity
that thrives in the area, she said.

She said declaring a portion of the Benham Rise a protected area will depend on the exploration
report. If the best use is to protect the marine biodiversity, then the option is to declare it as a
protected area. But we would like to listen to other agencies with stake in the Benham Rise, like
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, MGB [Mines and Geosciences Burea] and the
DOE, she said. According to Lim, the plan for another visit to the Benham Rise will be
conducted by a composite team, which includes marine geologists, fisheries expert and marine
biologists.

Although we have preliminary information available because of previous explorations, it is best

to validate these information toward deciding on what will be the best management option for
the Benham Rise, she added.

Excellent cover of coral reefs

An abstract of a poster prepared by scientists who earlier explored the Benham Rise, entitled
Exploring Mesophotic Depths off Philippine Sea: Coral Reefs on Benham Bank Seamount,
revealed that the reefs on the summit 50 meters to 55 meters deep had excellent cover, estimated
to be between 75 percent and 100 percent, of mostly Porites rus, which appeared as tiered, thick,
rigid and foliose plates.

These species of coral are heavily collected for the aquarium trade.

Over 60 species of bony and cartilaginous fish were also recorded. Of these, 26 have high
commercial value. Also, Halimeda spp, a genus of green macroalgae, is dominant. Other classes
observed are epiphytes, or plant that grows harmlessly upon another plant.
The scientists observed that while the account of benthic biodiversity appears less when
compared to shallower fringing reefs of the countrys Pacific seaboard, much of the Benham
Bank remains to be uncovered.

It is very important to explore the Benham Rise, because there are other interests in the area. It
should be an integrated assessment of the territory so that we will know what we are bound to
gain or lose, Lim said.

Once a portion of the Benham Rise was declared a protected area, she said, the territory will
undergo a more stringent protection mechanism.

If its going to be declared a protected area, it will be an executive decision, hence resources
will not rely only upon the BMB. We expect other agencies to help. It means all resources of the
national government, including the Department of National Defense, for its protection, will be
tapped, she said.

How will the Philippines rise with Benham Rise?

Because of Benham Rise, the Philippines is now bigger in area, and richer in natural resources.
But are our political leaders entrusted to chart the nations destiny, wiser and trustworthy enough
to harness said Gods blessings to benefit the Filipino people?

Last April 2012, the Philippines have augmented its area into 43 Million hectares from 30
Million hectares after the United Nations has approved the Philippines territorial claim to
Benham Rise, an undersea landmass in the Pacific Ocean potentially rich in mineral and natural
gas deposits.

Secretary Paje said the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sent the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) a letter informing the agency that the landmass is
part of the countrys continental shelf and territory. It must be noted that Benham is a plateau-
like area rising off the sea floor near the island of Luzon.

According to geologists, Benham Rise is a seismically active region facing Luzons eastern
seaboard which is rising slowly to the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Just imagine that many
centuries from now, that area which is bigger than Luzon, eventually will be habitable!

It is interesting to note that although it is just off the coast of Aurora province, the Bicol Saddle
is the shallowest part of the morphological connection between Luzon and the southern margin
of Benham Rise according to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
(NAMRIA).

The Philippines government now wants to conduct a seismic survey of the Benham region,
which in some parts is only 50 meters deep, to see if there are possible oil or gas deposits there
worth drilling for. Energy Department officials announced recently that four foreign exploration
companies have offered to conduct the survey. At the least, it would take 3-5 years for a full
assessment of Benhams potential to be finished. If something is found, a few more years would
be needed to exploit commercially any deposits found there.

But what worried me now is how will the government handle this huge endeavor with utmost
transparency and competence. The greedy politicians in cohort with unscrupulous business
tycoons must be salivating by just computing the possible bonanza in billions of dollars! Just
remember what a mess these dirty politicians (including senatongs & representathieves) have
done skimming billions of pesos as if they own it. For sure, they will be fighting tooth and nail
just to have a share of the pie that could be hundreds of times larger than the Malampaya fund.

I am also concerned on the capability of the Philippine government to ensure that said territory is
protected from the encroachment of foreigners. Under the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Benham Rise, also known as Benham Plateau, is part of Philippine
territory. And this includes the airspace above us and the sea bed, and everything in-between.

Can our Philippine Air Force (as of now, it is only full of air but not a force to reckon with), and
Philippine Coast Guard (most of the time it can only guard the coasts since it does not have
enough ships to patrol the Philippine seas) do their job efficiently and effectively?

That is why it is imperative that PNoy and Congress seriously tackle the modernization of the
Armed Forces and allocate the needed funds. If they have the foresight, it could have been
achieved. They should have put together the DAP, PDAP, Malampaya fund, and other
government resources sans the greediness and corruption in order to develop and maintain a
respectable defence capability.

It is so frustrating that former President Fidel Ramos, a former AFP vice chief of staff failed as
he promised even after the Fort Bonifacio was sold. What can we expect from Erap who fought
imaginary Japanese soldiers only in his B-rated movies? What about Gloria in whose term
proliferated the eurogenerals, Gen. Garcia and his ilk? With a sly husband who even sold his
second hand helicopters to the PNP at brand new prices. No wonder, the PNP SWAT failed
miserably in the botched rescue of Chinese hostages from a single gunman at the Luneta standoff
which was telecast throughout the world!

Alas! PNoy, who is a gun enthusiast, has made a difference. Under his term, the AFP has
improved. It has made some procurements, and hopefully will continue to modernize. Maybe the
Americans will be more generous and reasonable by helping the Philippines uphold its territorial
sovereignty not only in Obamas words. Anyway, the Americans have been giving us peanuts
and ukay ukay armaments, and military equipment in the past.

So, can we make the Benham Rise off-limits to Chinese, Taiwanese poachers? According to the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the area is rich in marine resources. How
will the government ensure that the new fishing ground will not be a subject of a territorial
dispute in the future.

BFAR Director Asis Perez said more than 60 fish-aggregating devices were already installed at
Benham Rise. Maraming tuna, merong blue fin tuna, pinakamahal na isda. May galunggong,
lapu-lapu, isdang bato, We are the only country that was allowed to fish blue fin tuna. Theres a
regional Pacific management body in charge of fishing in the Pacific waters, Perez said.

What is important is for Filipinos to be vigilant and watch carefully every move that the
government is going to make. Let us not leave a room for individuals or groups to make fast
money with sleigh of hands, or for the government to keep their transactions shrouded with
suspicious secrecy.

Let us also make sure that the leaders we will elect in the forthcoming national elections are
righteous, honest, and competent. We must choose the patriots and nationalists who have a
vision for the nation to be great and for its people to prosper. For only then will the Philippines
rise! Specially so that we now have the Benham Rise.

Benham Rise seen as potential fisheries hotspot

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) is

eyeing the Benham Rise as a potential fisheries hotspot in the countrys eastern seaboard facing
the Pacific Ocean off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela.

In April 2009 the Philippines filed a full territorial waters claim with the United Nations. The
petition, once approved will give the country full ownership of the area as part of our extended
continental shelf. Three years later, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Benham Rise is the Philippines newest territory.
The actual evidence of ownership is utilization and full control of the Benham Rise, said DA
Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR Director Asis Perez regarding the 13 million hectare
undersea region east of Luzon.

In 2012, DA-BFAR deployed an exploratory team whose mission is for research and to
implement utilization and full control.

Exploratory mission

Since Benham Rise is located several hundred nautical miles off eastern coast of Luzon, the area
promises of high potential for fishing activities.

The exploratory mission also identified the vast and diverse marine resources in Benham Rise,
the undersecretary said.

Ang lugar ay hindi masyadong napupuntahan ng ating mga mangingisda, subalit ang lugar na
ito ay tradisyunal na pinangingisdaan ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino, he added.

BFAR has recently monitored the operation of two to three medium sized fishing vessels in the
area while performing the agencys mandate to explore and identify marine and fisheries
resources available in Benham Rise.

From 2013 to 2014, the bureau undertook oceanographic studies in the vicinity of Benham Rise
alongside implementation of the National Payao Program and fisheries assessment.

Under the program, payao units were deployed in strategic areas in the region to provide fishers
with marked fishing spots and avoid fuel wastage in search for good catch.

Community Fish Landing Centers

Community Fish Landing Centers are also being established on coastal communities in provinces
nearest Benham Rise.

Usec. Perez said the region plays a big role in fisheries because the shallowest area has shown
primary productivity. BFAR implemented hand line fishing activity and identified the presence
of tuna and tuna like species, yellow fin and big eye tuna.

The bureau uses its pelagic long line vessel in its exploratory mission and discovered that the
major species caught in Benham Rise are tuna, opa (pink fish), albacore (white meat tuna), and
big eye tuna.

Benham Rise is ideal for implementing long line fishing, a method which uses multiple hooks
and is not widely practiced yet in the country. Compared to other fishing grounds, fishes caught
in Benham Rise are bigger.
Conservation is important as well as utilization. Tuna species is a highly migratory species.
Conserving the area will not assure that the tuna will stay in Benham Rise all the time.

A balance has to be made between utilization and conservation. There has to be utilization of the
resource in a proper way, Usec. Perez said.

Latest Benham Rise expedition reveals vast coral ecosystem

'Collectively, among the decades of experience studying the ocean that we have aboard the ship,
no one has ever seen reefs like this,' says Margot Stiles of Oceana Philippines

'VAST AND PRISTINE'. Marine scientists head to Benham Rise for a week-long expedition. All
photos from Oceana Philippines

MANILA, Philippines Marine scientists documented a "vast and pristine" coral reef ecosystem
during the latest exploration of Benham Rise conducted in May.

On board the government research vessel M/V DA-BFA, the expedition team composed of
marine scientists from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, University of the
Philippines, and Oceana Philippines left for Benham Bank the shallowest portion of Benham
Rise last May 23 and returned on May 31.

"We saw terraces of corals, as far as the eye could see. It's so exciting to know that we have such
a vast and pristine coral reef ecosystem within Philippine territory," said Marianne Pan-Saniano,
marine scientist for Oceana Philippines.

In a statement on Sunday, June 5, Oceana said the team composed of fisheries and algae experts,
microbiologists, oceanographers, and ecologists observed "100% coral cover in several sites,
with a wide variety of colorful branching and plate corals.

Its biological diversity consists of "a dazzling array of soft and hard corals, fish, algae, and
sponges," Oceana noted.
"Collectively, among the decades of experience studying the ocean that we have aboard the ship,
no one has ever seen reefs like this. Benham is indeed a special place," said Margot Stiles,
Oceana's director of science and strategy.

The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf approved the Philippines' undisputed
claim to Benham Rise on April 12, 2012.

This is the Philippines' first validated claim under the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea, which the Philippines also invokes in its historic case against China.

Filipinos reached the shallowest portion of Benham Rise for the first time in 2014. Back then, the
team of scientists did 5 dives only for around 5 minutes each, at least in the lowest part they
reached a total of around 25 minutes. (READ: IN PHOTOS: First glimpse of Benham Rise)

For the 2016 exploration, Oceana said scientists were able to extensively study the underwater
terrain of Benham Bank through cutting-edge technology. The team covered 12 research stations
and analyzed hours of video footage daily.

According to Oceana, a remotely operated vehicle took underwater photos and videos for two
hours on a daily basis.

Another equipment, the baited remote underwater video system, explored deeper parts of the
ocean, taking 5 hours' worth of footage. It was deployed to determine fish diversity and biomass.

Samples from Benham Bank's seabed were collected with the help of technical divers from the
Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard.

"The expedition team documented a vast mesophotic reef ecosystem coral reefs found at
depths of up to 150 meters. Scientists believe such deep sea reefs can serve as a potential refuge
for shallow reef fishes that could be affected by climate change," Oceana said in the statement.

Oceana Philippines Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos said Benham Bank has tremendous
potential for the discovery of more unique species and outstanding samples of marine resources.
UNDERWATER DISNEYLAND TO RISE IN THE PHILIPPINES BENHAM RISE

ANAHEIM, California (The Adobo Chronicles, Los Angeles Bureau) It is known as the
Benham Rise, a 13-million- hectare, seismically active undersea region located east of Luzon,
and is 35 meters underwater at its shallowest point off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela. It is
said to be wider than Luzon, Samar and Leyte combined.

In April 2012, the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) recognized and officially
approved the Philippines claim that Benham Rise is part of its continental shelf and territory.
With that, the Philippines territory has increased to 43 million hectares from 30 million hectares.

Today, a big announcement from Disneyland: it will build the worlds first underwater theme
park on Benham Rise. The park will feature a replica of the Titanic, several snorkeling arenas, a
natural aquarium and swimming pool, submarine rides, shops, restaurants and other unique
attractions all under water!

Disneys announcement is just one of living proof of foreign investors confidence in the
incoming administration of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte. It is part of the mayors overall
strategic plan to create jobs for Filipinos, promote Philippine tourism, and create a smoke-free
environment that can be enjoyed by domestic and foreign tourists alike.

Duterte also hinted at creating several underwater livable communities at Benham Rise as a way
to disperse the overcrowding of Metro Manila and other urban cities, and to solve the
nightmarish traffic problems of the country.

The Benham Rise is home to at least 200 fish species

Fisheries and algae experts, microbiologists, oceanographers, and ecologists from Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), University of the Philippines (UP) and Oceana
conducted a week-long expedition to Benham Rise which started on May 23, 2016. In a press
release, Oceana said that at least 200 fish species including surgeonfish, hawkfish, and
damselfish, and large predators such as tiger shark were recorded along with green algae and soft
sponges.

Benham Bank holds tremendous potential for discovering more unique species and outstanding
samples of marine resources ...we foresee government and stakeholders working together to
protect and sustainably manage this extraordinary natural heritage which is now part of our
territory, said Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President for Oceana Philippines.

Japan and Korea want to explore Benham Rise

Japan and Korea have expressed interest in research and exploration of Benham Rise.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is hopeful that it could undertake a vital
resource mapping over Benham Rise with Japan and Korea.
According to DOST, Benham Rise has attracted the interest of Japan Agency for Marine-Earth
Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
(KIOST) to collaborate on conducting the survey.

JAMSTEC would like to do a survey using its 6-billion submarine research project, said Carlos
Primo David, executive director of the DOSTs Philippine Council on Industry, Energy and
Emerging Technologies Research and Development

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) is

eyeing the Benham Rise as a potential fisheries hotspot in the countrys eastern seaboard facing
the Pacific Ocean off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela.

Exploratory mission

Since Benham Rise is located several hundred nautical miles off eastern coast of Luzon, the area
promises of high potential for fishing activities.

The exploratory mission also identified the vast and diverse marine resources in Benham Rise,
the undersecretary said.

Ang lugar ay hindi masyadong napupuntahan ng ating mga mangingisda, subalit ang lugar na
ito ay tradisyunal na pinangingisdaan ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino, he added.

BFAR has recently monitored the operation of two to three medium sized fishing vessels in the
area while performing the agencys mandate to explore and identify marine and fisheries
resources available in Benham Rise.

From 2013 to 2014, the bureau undertook oceanographic studies in the vicinity of Benham Rise
alongside implementation of the National Payao Program and fisheries assessment.

Under the program, payao units were deployed in strategic areas in the region to provide fishers
with marked fishing spots and avoid fuel wastage in search for good catch.

GAS, OIL, DEPOSIT

An energy official says this is a good time to do a seismic study on the possible oil and gas
deposits in Benham Rise, the recently awarded underwater territory east of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Department of Energy (DOE) said this is a good time
to do a seismic study to determine if there are oil and gas deposits in Benham Rise, the recently
awarded underwater territory east of the Philippines.
Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. told reporters on Monday, September 10, that, if seismic
data would show commercial quantity of deposits in Benham Rise, they are looking at offering it
to investors in the upcoming round of new exploration contracts.

"It would be nice to include the Benham Rise in PECR 5," Layug said, referring to the Fifth
Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR5) in 2013.

He said 4 exploration companies have already expressed interest in doing seismic surveys in the
eastern side of the Philippines.

Benham Rise is a 13-million hectare seismically active underwater region and extinct volcanic
ridge located approximately 250 kilometers east of the northern coastline of Dinapigue, Isabela.

It is the first territory that the Philippines won under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
(Unclos), the same convention the Philippines invokes in its two-month standoff with China over
Scarborough Shoal on the western side of the country.

The Philippines filed its claim for Benham Rise in 2008 and the UN has officially approved the
claim in April 2012.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has previously said it has plans to also
explore the potentially rich marine resources at the new territory, as well as the largely
unexplored Pacific seaboard

The DOE has previously auctioned energy blocs in the western side of the Philippines under
PECR-4.

Huge methane ice (burning ice) deposits in Benham Rise could turn the Philippines into a natural
gas exporter.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, and electricity
generation. It is also used as fuel for vehicles and as a chemical feedstock in the manufacture of
plastics and other commercially important organic chemicals.

Methane_hydrate

The U.S. geological survey estimates that global deposits of methane hydrates may be greater
than the worlds oil and fossil fuels combined.

Methane ice deposits are believed to be a larger hydrocarbon resource than all of the worlds oil,
natural gas and coal resources combined, it could become the next energy game changer. Experts
dubbed the methane ice as the fuel of the future.

In fact, the deposits of this methane ice in Benham Rise are believed to be so huge, it could make
the Philippines one of the richest countries in the world.
February 12, 2016 Japan and Korea expressed interest in exploring Benham Rise

The infamous Fukushima disaster has led to Japans entire nuclear industry to shut down,
resulting in its gradual shift back to fossil fuel for power generation.

The Japanese government has spent millions of dollars on researching related to methane ice
after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

On March 2013, Japan becomes the first in the world to successfully extracted gas from methane
ice from the seabed, 3,300 feet below sea level. They are planning to commercially produce the
natural gas by early 2020.

In 2011, Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje said Benham Rise is very relevant because
of its gas deposits which has been confirmed particularly by the National Mapping Resource
Information Agency. It has given us the data that the area contains solid methane. We have not
explored it but we have found nodules of methane in the surface and this is very important to
us.

Burning ice: Methane hydrate is set on fire in this undated file photo.

Burning ice: Methane hydrate is set on fire in this undated file photo.

He added that there would be a demand for gas deposits in Benham Rise because its much
cleaner than other fossil fuels.

Paje said that gas deposits in the area would also enable the country to achieve energy
sufficiency.

Aside from Benham Rise, the Philippines has another resource-rich area in the West Philippine
Sea, the Kalayaan Island Group which is part of the disputed Spratly Islands claimed by the
Philippines. It is also believed to have contain oil and natural gas.

If methane hydrates were developed, it would have a truly transformational impact on energy
markets, arguably even more so than the United States shale revolution ever did.

BALER, Aurora Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara on Sunday urged the government to explore the
possibility of tapping new gas fields such as the Benham Rise continental shelf in place of the
Malampaya gas field, which is expected to be depleted of its natural gas in less than a decade.

Angara said that the government should consider Benham Rise as an alternative amid calls from
experts to search for another Malampaya as a national priority.

Definitely, we should push through with the exploration of Benham Rise, he said, referring to
the 13-million hectare undersea land mass off the coast of Aurora, which is part of the
Philippines 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.
Angara made the call after officials of the Petroleum Association of the Philippines (PAP)
expressed misgivings that the government has no other viable option after Malampaya.

Shell Philippines B.V. Managing Director Sebastian Quinones said the Malampaya reservoir will
be depleted in 2024 and that government should now start exploring other gas fields.

Malampaya, which began operating in 2011, is a joint undertaking of the government and the
private sector. The project is spearheaded by the Department of Energy and developed and
operated by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (Spex), with a 45 percent stake on behalf of joint
venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC, which has the same stake and the PNOC Exploration
Corp., which holds the remaining 10 percent.

Under the service contract agreement, 70 percent of the gross proceeds from the sale of natural
gas would go to the contractor to recover the investment cost with the remaining 30 will be
percent shared by the government and the consortium on a 60-40 basis, respectively.

Upon its discovery, Malampaya was found to have 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves
and 85 million barrels of condensate, located some 3,000 meters below sea level.

Angara said the government should exhaust means to tap Benham Rise .

If the government cant do it, then we can enter into joint venture agreements with the private
sector, he said.

As early as 2012, Angara has called Malacaang to conduct an in-depth study on Benham Rise.

These are the things that we must not fail to take advantage of, he said.

Angara expressed concern that a number of foreign fishermen have been exploiting Benham Rise
even after it was declared part of the countrys territory.

Benham Rise was named after American surveyor, Admiral Andrew Benham who is credited
with discovering it as a US Navy officer serving the South Atlantic and West Gulf Blockading
Squadron during the American Civil War.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) approved the governments
claim to Benham on April 12,2012, four years after it lodged its claim on April 8,2009.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje said the methane gas deposits in the
area would enable the country to achieve energy sufficiency.

In May 2014, a team of Filipino experts went on a two-week expedition to examine marine life
in Benham and discovered 120 percent coral cover.
According to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, Benham Rise is a
shallow bathymetric feature that towers above the adjacent deep ocean floor with Benham Bank,
the shallowest part, measuring 50 meters deep.

Initial samplings from the undersea plateau point to a rich source of manganese and natural gas.

Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said other oil and gas exploration projects may be a
affected by the recent ruling of the Commission on Audit imposing P53.14 billion in taxes to the
Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project.

Petilla warned the COA ruling might set a precedent and imperil other service contracts aside
from SC 38 of the Malampaya gas project led by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V.

Petilla said the Galoc oil field under Service Contract 14C1 may also be affected.

The implication of this is that it will not only affect the Malampaya project but affect other
petroleum drillings, including Galoc, he said.

The COA said in its decision that income tax is not included in the governments share of
Malampaya royalties.

To date, the Malampaya consortium has submitted over $8 billion in royalties to the government
from the time the project was started.

We will sit down with the legal people in the DOE. Moving forward, it will be a discussion
amongst us first, Petilla said.

If they say that we should collect then we have to collect. If we are asked to give our opinion,
we will just give. But it is not the DOE that will appeal for them, he added.

Petilla said the Malampaya consortium can raise the matter to the Supreme Court.