By Camille Diola
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has turned down requests from China to conduct marine scientific research in the Benham Rise area prior to the sighting of Chinese vessels last year by defense authorities.
Maria Lourdes Montero, officer in charge of a Department of Foreign Affairs' maritime body, said that her office received applications for research on the Philippines' potentially resource-rich undersea plateau in 2015 and 2016.
While failing to specify the number of applications, Montero said these were usually declined after coordination with concerned government agencies due to the "non-involvement of Filipino scientists in the conduct of marine scientific research."
She said the DFA's Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office processes applications from researchers abroad or researching states for permits for scientific activities on the country's seabed.
"Strictly for marine scientific research purposes, but not (economic) exploration because that's governed by certain parameters under our Constitution and domestic law," Montero said at Wednesday's joint Senate hearing by finance and economic affairs panels.
The Department of National Defense earlier this year raised concern over Chinese vessels spotted in Benham Rise off the northeastern portion of the Philippines' landmass. It said that one vessel lingered for three months from September to November.
Montero, however, could not confirm if the suspicious activities were by the entities whose applications were previously rejected.
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