The government has approved applications from three other countries to conduct marine scientific research (MSR) in Benham Rise, a development which presidential spokesperson Harry Roque hope would debunk controversies that the Duterte administration is favoring China.
“Request applications to conduct research by the United States, Japan and South Korea have likewise been approved. This hopefully puts to rest the issue that the current administration is favoring China in the issue of Benham Rise,” Roque said in a statement.
Roque also clarified his previous statement on why China was the only country permitted to take part in the Benham Rise research.
It can be recalled that Roque said, “No one has applied and no one can do it, because, apparently, it’s capital-intensive…Because only China has qualified so far. There are other applicants, unfortunately, they did not qualify according to fixed guidelines already set by the government.”
He stressed that his statement was misinterpreted, and asked that it be read in its entirety.
“It is obvious that my statement pertains to China and not the Philippines. As Filipinos, we do not need consent to conduct scientific investigation in Benham Rise because it is subject to our sovereign rights which includes the right to conduct scientific research. The Government of the Philippines does not need, therefore, to give permits to Filipinos in this regard. We have the sovereign rights to explore and exploit the resources in Benham Rise,” Roque said.
He added that he “never said Filipinos cannot conduct research in Benham Rise,” in fact “only Filipinos can do so even without express consent of our state.”
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 1/ 25 /18)