Legarda Joined PH Mission to UN on the Benham Rise Region

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT’S CLAIM OVER THE BENHAM RISE REGION AFTER JOINING THE UNITED NATIONS MEETING IN NEW YORK THAT DISCUSSED THE COUNTRY’S SUBMISSION FOR AN EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF (ECS).
“I register my support to the Philippine delegation as it pursues our country’s claim over the natural resources of ECS in the Benham Rise Region,” Legarda said in a statement after the meeting with the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf held in the Office of UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea.
Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, noted that this dialogue is critical in expediting the consideration of RP’s submission.
“As the continental shelf is a potential source of huge oil and gas reserves, the country is presented an opportunity to achieve energy self-sufficiency,” stressed Legarda, noting DOE’s estimate of an approximately 23 billion US dollars-worth of oil and gas reserves in the Reed bank and Malampaya areas alone.
In 2002, a study conducted by an inter-agency group led by NAMRIA identified two potential ECS areas for the Philippines: the Benham Rise Region and the Western Palawan region. In April 2009, the Philippines made a submission for the Benham Rise Region, while reserving the right to make submissions in other areas in the future. The ECS in the Benham Rise Region is a large seabed area encompassing 133,000 square kilometers, or nearly half the land area of the country.
The DENR asserts that the continental shelf hosts huge deposits of hard minerals including nickel, copper, cobalt, silver and rare earth metals. It also home to sedentary species that have pharmaceutical uses.
“I joined the Philippine delegation in this crucial dialogue, with the goal of sending a strong signal to the international community that the Philippines asserts its rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea for the benefit of the Filipino people,” said Legarda.

Legarda, Sumuporta sa Claim ng Pinas sa Benham Rise Region
September 01, 2011
NAKIBAHAGI SI SENADOR LOREN LEGARDA SA ISANG PULONG SA UNITED NATIONS SA NEW YORK BILANG SUPORTA SA CLAIM NG PILIPINAS SA BENHAM RISE REGION. PINAGUSAPAN SA NATURANG PULONG ANG “SUBMISSION FOR AN EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF” O ECS.
“Sinusuportahan ko ang Philippine delegation sa misyon nitong pagtibayin ang claim ng bansa sa mga likas-yaman sa Benham Rise Region,” turan ni Legarda sa isang pahayag matapos ang pulong sa Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf na ginawa sa Office of UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea.
Idiniin ni Legarda, pinuno ng Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, ang kahalagahan ng naturang dialogue para mapabilis ang konsiderasyon sa hiling ng Pilipinas.
“Ang continental shelf ay posibleng source ng malawak na oil and gas reserve at makatutulong sa ating energy self-sufficiency,” paliwanag ni Legarda. Sa taya ng DOE, sa Reed Bank at Malampaya areas pa alng, $23 billion na ang halaga ng oil and gas reserves natin.
Noong 2002, isang pag-aaral ang ginawa ng inter-agency group sa pangunguna kung saan natukoy ang dalawang potential ECS areas: ang Benham Rise Region at Western Palawan region. Noong Abril 2009, nagsubmit na ang Pilipinas ng claim sa Benham Rise Region, at nag-abiso na posible pang mag-claim din sa ibang lugar. Ang ECS sa Benham Rise Region ay isang malaking seabed na aabot ng 133,000 square kilometers, o halos kalahati na ng land area ng bansa.
Naniniwala ang DENR na may malaking deposition ditto ng hard minerals gaya ng nickel, copper, cobalt, silver at rare earth metals. Marami ring sedentary species dito na posibleng may pharmaceutical properties.
“Sumama ako sa dialogue na ito bilang senyales na desidido ang bansa na ipaglaban ang karapatan ng bansa sa likas-yaman nito,” diin ni Legarda.