A committee in the House of Representatives approved a measure seeking to declare a portion of the Philippine Rise—also known as Benham Rise—as a protected area. During its meeting on Wednesday, the House committee on natural resources approved the substitute bill to House Bill No. 36 or the “Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve Act.” The measure seeks to declare a portion of the Philippine Rise situated within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippine Sea as a protected area with the category of marine resource reserve under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), to be referred to as the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR).

House panel Oks bill declaring portion of Philippine Rise s protected area. (2021, July 8). Panay News, pp. 5, 14.