President Rodrigo Duterte on 15 May 2018 signed a proclamation declaring a portion of Benham Rise (Philippine Rise) a marine protected area.

The President signed the proclamation providing for the declaration of 50,000 hectares of the underwater plateau, located east of Luzon, as a “strict protection zone limited to scientific studies.” More than 300,000 hectares of the 13-million hectare area, will be designated as a special fisheries management area.

The United Nations had in 2012 awarded Philippine Rise formerly called Benham Rise to the Philippines as an extension of its continental shelf. With the ruling, the country was granted”sovereign rights” over Philippine Rise, which means the Philippines has exclusive rights to explore and exploit resources there. Source: Internet News Articles.