“The sea floor around Benham is covered with metal-rich chunks—manganese nodules that also contain nickel, copper, cobalt and other minerals,” Atienza, one-time Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, said. The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority previously explored Benham, and found exceptionally high concentrations of manganese nodules on the seabed, according to the party-list lawmaker. Atienza said he intends to file this week a bill proposing to establish a Benham Rise Protection and Development Authority.

Benham teems with metals lawmaker. (2017, March 20). Manila Standard, p. A3.