MANILA, Philippines — Pinayagan umano ng gobyerno ang China na pag-aralan ang katubigan ng Pilipinas, kabilang ang Philipine Rise, ayon sa isang mambabatas ngayong Biyernes.
Sinabi ni Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano na inaprubahan ng Department of Foreign Affairs ang Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO-CAS) na suriin ang katubigan sa bahagi ng Eastern Luzon at Eastern Mindanao.
Tumanggi naman si Alejano na pangalanan kung sino ang nagbigay sa kaniya ng impormasyon.
Aniya makakasama ng Chinese researchers ang University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute.
Samantala, hindi naman pinayagan umano ng DFA ang kaparehong hiling ng French-based non-profit organization Tara Expeditions Foundation, ayon pa kay Alejano.
“So why China? All things considered, allowing a Chinese national think tank to conduct a so-called scientific research over Philippine waters, even with participation of Filipinos, is careless and absurd,” sabi ni Alejano na dating Marine officer.
“China has been adamant on exploring Benham Rise and they have no intention of involving Filipino scientists... Given this initial behavior, we should be worried on whether the Philippines will be given equal access to all information culled by the joint project.”
Noong 2012 ay iginawad ng United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf sa Pilipinas ang Benham Rise.
Gumawa naman ng Executive Order si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte upang gawing Philippine Rise ang pangalan nito.