(Eagle News) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it would still have to study further the possibility of allowing foreign help in the exploration of the 24-million hectare Philippine Rise.
DENR undersecretary Jonas Leones said officials from the National Security Council, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will still have to evaluate this option.
He noted that other countries which would want to participate in such explorations would have their own agenda in doing this.
“Pag nag-e-evaluate tayo ng whether to allow ang exploration ng mga foreigners yan, pag-aaralan yan ng ating National Security Council, BFAR, DFA at DENR at titingnan natin talaga na it can really benefit the country. Lahat ng mga findings nila ay para lang sa atin okay lang naman, pero yung ibang bansa na may mga agenda, yun ang iiwasan natin,” Leones said during Radyo Agila, DZEC’s phone interview.
President Rodrigo Duterte led the send-off ceremonies for Filipino scientists to the Philippine Rise on Tuesday, May 15, and asserted that the continental shelf is part of the country’s sovereign territory.
“I no longer talk about sovereign [territory] or sovereign rights. I do not make any distinction. Basta umabot ‘yan ng [Exclusive] Economic Zone namin, amin ‘yan,” he said in a program commemorating the first anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 25, which renamed Benham Rise to Philippine Rise.
https://youtu.be/5b70Yi_XGME
