The Senate forgers on with its bid for the creation of a Benham Rise Development rights over the territory recently visited by a Chinese vessel. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, said the next hearing would be conducted with the Senate Finance Committee headed by Sen. Loren Legarda with officials of the Departments of National Defense (DND) and Foreign Affairs (DFA) as resource person. It was Sen. Sonny Angara who filed Senate Bill No.312, the Benham Rise Development Authority Act, in the light of reports of Chinese activity in the area.

Torregoza, H. L. (2017, March 27). Senate sets next hearing for new 'Benham Rise Dev't Authority'. Manila Bulletin. pp. 1, 6.