Press Release
February 6, 2018

Ambush Interview Benham Rise
Session Hall

Q: Bakit po na-cancel ang mga foreign explorations sa Benham Rise?

SEN WIN: From what I understand, di nila tinuloy because they will set new guidelines that will be fair and available to all countries at ang pinaka-importante doon sa guidelines, ay tayo ang magbebenepisyo, dapat whatever research na makita nila diyan ay dapat bumalik sa atin, hindi yung ibang bansa ang makikinabang. Para sa akin, I support the new guidelines and I support the guidelines being available to all countries but more importantly, kung ano ang research na lalabas, tayo ang makikinabang.

Q: So ibig sabihin, mas malinaw ang polisiyang iyon?

SEN WIN: Mas malinaw ang polisiya, in fact ng nagka-hearing kami diyan, sa Benham Rise, hindi ganun ka-clear ang policy dahil for example kung gusto mo ng marine research, dapat mag-coordinate ka pa sa DENR, kung gusto mo exploration, magko-coordinate ka sa DOE, pag permit--DFA so it's good to have a process para hindi magulo kung saan pupunta itong mga research findings. I know for a fact na ang Japan, very interested sa research, and Korea din. Ang Oceana Philippines which is a Europe-based entity ay nagre-research din sila doon so marami ang gustong mag-research. Ang bottomline dito, dapat tayo ang makinabang sa research, hindi ang ibang tao.

Q: Is there a need for remedial legislation?

SEN WIN: Yes, we will be filing a new name. Dati Benham Rise Development Authority, ngayon ay Philippine Rise Development Authority to give consistency to what remains in that area and in the development authority, it will be a coordinative body, a policy-making body and we will also include regulatory powers para isa lang ang kausap kung gusto mong mag-research at mag-explore in that area.

Q: Anong agency po yun?

SEN WIN: It will be under the Office of the President. Ngayon meron akong coast watch which is under the President--another body regulating the different bodies of water here in other countries so maraming entities. We will now consolidate everything para isa lang ang kausap pagdating sa Philippine Rise.

Q: Sir diba naka isang hearing na kayo diyan? (Benham Rise)

SEN .WIN: naka isang hearing na kami pero alam mo we while were devising itong TWG. Ang daming lumalabas na issues about security itong mga different policies so we will have one more hearing to discuss the current events para mapag-usapan na naming kung ano ba yung magandang powers na pwedeng ibigay sa bagong ahensya na ito.

Q: sa policy ng gobyerno ni-rerequire ba yung mga Philippine scientists?

SEN .WIN: Yes required siya. Say for example the Japanese will conduct research, importante na meron tayong Filipino researchers na kasama nila. Lalabas sa research yun e, yung data, yung mga underwater films. Importante na meron tayong copya para mapag-aralan din natin. Dahil baka mas alam pa nila yung mga nasa ilalim kaysa satin e. Tama yun dahil we have sovereign rights over that area.

Q: House counterpart bill? Status?

SEN .WIN: Sa house meron nang gumagalaw. If I'm not mistaken nasa committee hearing na siya. Not sure about the author but meron nang counterpart. In fact meron silang binigay na 100 million to administer the Philippine rise. I think with the office of the president yun.

The house proposed a fund worth 100 million for the office of the president to continue the administration of the Benham Rise and when you say administration meron National Security aspect, research aspect, meron din pang pa sweldo sa mga mag tratrabaho sa area.

Walang funding sa Senate version. It came from the house. Ito it will come from the 2018 budget so operational na to. It's not that big but it's a good start.

Kakatapos lang yung TWG pero babalikan namin yung public hearing because we feel maraming areas na we need to talk about; national security, relations, permitting and sinabi nga research materials dapat pumunta sa atin.

Q: So specifically yung 100 million will be spent for?

SEN .WIN: It will be spent for administration of the area, research and on the coordination of other departments.

Q: Exploration?

SEN .WIN: Walang exploration, it's purely marine science research. Q: What are we looking at there?

SEN .WIN: ang pinaka malaking tinitignan natin dun is yung gas hydrates. Ito yun mga gas na trap sa mga yelo. Mahahanap yun sa pinaka ilalim ng ocean floor at mahirap i-extract. Wala pang technology to extract these gas hydrates but in Japan they are very interested in that.

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