In a matter of days, the Benham Rise has become a new flashpoint, threatening to undermine increasing warm, if not cordial, bilateral relations between Manila and Beijing. Home to precious mineral resources, which are critical for high-tech equipment production, fisheries, and untold reserves of oil and gas, which could address our energy security needs in light of Malampaya plant’s impending exhaustion, the Benham Rise area was confirmed as part of Philippine continental shelf in 2012. It took hundreds of millions of pesos and tireless research and topographic/oceanographic studies by an expert team of leading Philippine marine scientists, along with lawyers and government officials, to convince the global body to recognize the area as an extension of mainland Luzon, thus our continental shelf.

Heydarian, R. J. (2017, March 20). Benham Rise: what is at stake?. Manila Bulletin. p. 12.