Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has called for the establishment of a Benham Rise Development Authority (BRDA) to allow the Philippines to systematically explore the 13-million hectare underwater plateau off Aurora province and to signal the country’s assertion of sovereign rights over it. In Senate Bill No. 312, Gatchalian said the BRDA would oversee the defense and development of Benham Rise, which a Chinese survey ship visited for extended periods last year. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said the country had no policy allowing China to conduct research on Benham Rise, noting that any foreign vessel wishing to undertake explorations on the undersea landmass should seek permission from the Philippines.

Avendaño, C. O., & Uy, J. R. (2017, March 17). Agency sought to defend, develop Benham Rise. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A6.