Dr. Malayang Urges Government to Protect Benham Rise
Silliman University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III urged government to pay more attention on the Filipino interest over the management of its natural resources, during the Bayanihan Para sa Benham Exhibit and Forum held March 19 at the Anthropology Museum on campus.
“There should be a change in fundamental discourse on how to manage our natural resources…where the fundamental interest is the interest of the Filipino people and not the interest of politicians who protect their own interests,” Dr. Malayang said, referring particularly to the Philippine Rise.
Read Rappler article: Silliman president to politicians: Protect Benham Rise, not personal interests
Formerly known as the Benham Rise, the Philippine Rise is a 24-million hectare undersea region east of Luzon, almost as big as the land area of the Philippines. Its shallowest part has a depth of at least 40 meters and is called the Benham Bank. It has a vast coral reef ecosystem and at least 170 fish species recorded.
The exhibit and forum was jointly organized by Silliman University and Oceana Philippines, an ocean conservation and advocacy organization. It was the Silliman and Dumaguete City leg of a national campaign rolled out as part of this year’s observance of the 3rd International Year of the Reef and in order to raise awareness on the importance of protecting the Philippine Rise.
Invited speakers during the forum were Mr. Raffy Ramiscal of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource who talked about the importance of Philippine Rise for the country’s food security; and Mr. James Santiago of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who shared their work on Protecting the Philippine Rise.
Oceana is urging the government to declare the Benham Bank as a no-take zone “to show that the Philippines is standing up to its commitment to protect our reefs” said Oceana Campaign Manager Mr. Daniel Ocampo.
The forum concluded with Oceana’s Communication Director Mr. Greg Yan urging participants to sign their online petition to show support for the protection of the Philippine Rise. You may sign the petition here: buff.ly/2psr0vM
Exhibit runs until the end of March at the Anthropology Museum, 2/F Hibbard Hall, Silliman University.
