Branching corals, home to reef fishes like damselfishes, butterfishes, and cardinalfishes, are found in the resource-rich Benham Rise or Philippine Rise. (Oceana/UPLB)
President Rodrigo Duterte will visit the Philippine Rise on May 15 to 16 to commemorate the renaming of the resource-rich continental shelf, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
“The President will be commemorating the renaming of Benham Rise to Philippine Rise by visiting the Philippine Rise itself, and this is on May 15 to 16,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.
READ: Duterte renames Benham Rise Philippine Rise
During his visit, Roque said Duterte would send off Filipino scientists who will conduct research in the underwater plateau.
“It will also be to launch the start of scientific research to be conducted by around 50 scientists,” he said.
“The event will be attended by the 50 scientists whom the President will be sending off as they start their scientific researches in Philippine Rise,” he added.
The President issued on May 2017 an Executive Order, changing the name of Benham Rise to Philippine Rise to assert the country’s sovereignty over the underwater plateau off eastern Luzon. /kga