Benham Rise now part of Philippine Territory

The future looks promising for the Philippines with the recent approval of Philippines’ claim to Benham Rise.

The Benham Rise is said to be loaded with natural gas and steel-producing minerals that could be used for domestic use or exportation to other countries. It’s definitely a huge asset to the Philippines economic stature – but it all boils down as to how efficient and how ‘incorrupt’ our government deals with the newly approved claim of the Benham Rise.

Mind you, it’s not just a small little addition to the Philippines. The Benham Rise is a 13-million hectare area just off the coast of Aurora province. The approval of the United Nations to confirm this as part of the Philippines’ continental shelf and territory.

“We own Benham Rise now,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in a media interview, quoted in a Philippine Daily Inquirer story Saturday, April 28. “This is for future Filipinos.”

Another plus to this new economic asset that we gained with this underwater plateau that’s measured to be almost a quarter bigger than the 10.5-million hectare Luzon is, that no other country has made any claims for it.

Let’s hope that our government can make good use of the Benham Rise — not for their sake, but for the sake of our fellow citizens.