(BusinessWorld) A CONGRESSMAN has filed a bill that seeks to classify a large part of the Philippine Rise, a vast undersea region east of Luzon, as a protected area where unsustainable fishing will be banned.
House Bill 5687 will ensure high biodiversity and near pristine habitats at Benham Bank and its surrounding waters Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said in a statement on Thursday.
This would contribute to sustainable fisheries “for present and future generations of Filipinos,” he added.
The bill seeks to create a Philippine Rise Marine Resource Protected Area Management Board to serve as the policy-making body for Benham Bank.
The board will be composed of officials from the Environment department, the Senate and House of Representatives. It will also include officials from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and National Economic and Development of Authority… Read More