Underwater flag-raising in the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) on Independence Day, June 12, 2017. PHOTO from The Extra Mile Productions
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — President Rodrigo Duterte will send off on Tuesday a team of Filipino scientists to the Philippine Rise (also known as Benham Rise) from Aurora province to begin research in the resource-rich territory, the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) announced Monday.
WATCH: Cloudy skies with light rains here in Casiguran, Aurora ahead of #PresidentDuterte's visit to Philippine Rise today. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/gVZ9uoocix
— Nestor A. Corrales (@NCorralesINQ) May 14, 2018
The send-off is part of the anniversary of the 2012 United Nations declaration acknowledging the underwater plateau as part of the country’s food supply exclusive zone.
The two-day event includes the casting of a buoy that would serve as a floating marker at the shallowest point of the region to aid aircraft conducting maritime air patrol in the area.
Nolcom on June 12, 2017, hoisted the Philippine flag underwater and on the deck the Navy’s BRP Davao del Sur. A marker was also Installed 70 feet below sea level to assert that the plateau was part of the country’s territory.
Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, Nolcom chief, said the unified command remains “committed to its mandate of protecting our people and securing our sovereign territory within its area of responsibility that includes the vast Northern Maritime area covering the Bajo De Masinloc, Luzon Strait and Philippine Rise.” /cbb