International group opposes mineral exploration in Benham Rise

MANILA, Philippines — The local unit of the largest international ocean conservation and advocacy group is opposing plans to conduct exploration at the Benham Rise amid ongoing move to secure financing to survey the area.

“It is urgent for the government to exercise prudence and at the very least, adopt a management framework and spare the pristine Benham Bank from any impact,” Oceana Philippines said.

The group argued that mineral and fuel surveys may possibly use seismic blasts of compressed air to penetrate miles into the seabed to search for offshore mineral deposits.

“The process will kill free-floating organisms like zooplankton and seismic blasts also hamper navigation and communication for cetaceans like whales and dolphins, which are legally-protected animals which pass through the Philippine Rise,” Oceana said.

Earlier this month, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs endorsed for plenary approval a measure urging Congress to allot P100 million for the exploration and survey mapping of Benham Rise.

House Resolution 45 by Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano directs the Departments of Science and Technology, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture and other government agencies to implement the necessary measures and related activities for the survey mapping of Benham Rise.

“Ecological thresholds must be determined to understand the impacts of any activity to be conducted. This will enable decision-makers to determine which activities should be permitted and which should be barred,” Oceana said.

“We call on our government to prioritize food security, build the resilience of our natural life support systems to the impacts of climate change and adhere to a truly sustainable development framework instead of rushing headlong into ecologically-destructive mining,” it added.

Last June, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) directed its attached agency Mines and Geosciences Bureau to fast track the geological investigation and exploration for minerals, particularly polymetallic sulfide at the Philippine Rise.

Polymetallic massive sulphide deposits are most commonly formed along tectonic plate boundaries and volcanic provinces in water depths from more than 500 meters to 5,000 meters.

The DENR said it is interested to know what minerals and rocks are present in the Philippine Rise, which could be a source of huge investments for the country.

The undersea region east of Luzon is located off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela and is duly recognized by the United Nations in 2012 as the newest Philippine territory under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.