Remember when Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said that they allowed China to explore the Benham Rise because Filipinos didn’t apply due to the fact that exploring the area would be “capital intensive?”
Scientists from the University of the Philippines, though, had actually been exploring the area since 2004.
Turns out the government actually does have money, about PHP100 million (US$2 million) to help fund exploration.
The Benham Rise Development Authority or BRDA, was formed last year and will oversee regulation of those who want to explore the region.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that the purpose of this was so that “you will talk to just one body if you want to research or explore that area.”
The news comes a day after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the exit of all foreigners exploring the area, which is part of Philippine territory, according to the United Nations Commission on the Limitation of the Continental Shelf.
Duterte was criticized for allowing China, a claimant in the South China Sea dispute, to explore an area where only the Philippines has sovereign rights over.
China refuses to abide by a 2016 ruling by the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, recognizing the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the Spratly Islands and Mischief Reef in the West Philippine Sea.
Photos released by the Philippine Daily Inquirer earlier this week show nearly completed military outposts built by China on several reefs in the seas.
Yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol quoted Duterte’s position on asking foreigners to leave Benham Rise: “let me be very clear about this: the Philippine Rise is ours and any insinuation that it is open to everybody should end with this declaration.” He added, “henceforth, only Filipino scientists will be allowed to conduct researches and exploration in the Philippine Rise.”
But even with a clear statement from a cabinet secretary, Roque confused everyone with this statement: “Well, it’s not really a ban. I guess it’s just a directive that we want Filipinos to do it as much as possible, that we are reserving it for Filipinos.”
Roque said that while Duterte revoked permits to explore the area now, they can still re-apply with more requirements.
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