Oceana, an international conservation and advocacy organization, is rallying the support of Silliman University in Dumaguete City in ongoing efforts to protect the Philippine Rise, also known as Benham Bank.
Danny Ocampo, Oceana-Philippines’ Oceans Campaign Manager, on Friday disclosed that they are tapping Silliman University, the latter being a forefront in marine conservation.
With this, Silliman University and Oceana will be holding a “Bayanihan Para sa Benham Exhibit and Forum” on the protection of Benham Bank as a “no-take zone.”
The exhibit will open March 19 through 23 at the Anthropology Museum, 2nd floor of Hibbard Hall of Silliman University.
Various issues will be discussed during the forum on March 19 at 9 a.m. at the Anthropology Museum, with focus on various issues affecting the Philippine Rise.
Invited as resource persons are Atty. Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines’ Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea and Dir. Theresa Mundita Lim of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
According to Ocampo, they were encouraged to rally the help of Silliman University because of a statement that its president, Dr. Ben Malayang III, had issued on the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) last January.
Dr. Malayang had said: “There seems to be a thinking purveyed by some that we need the expertise of another country to be able to explore, study, and identify sustainable development options for our natural resources, such as those in the Benham Rise. I have full confidence in the expertise of our Filipino scientists. They can do it, even with a modicum and the simplest of equipment.”
Ocampo also disclosed that aside from Silliman University, Oceana is drawing support from all walks of life and various sectors such as the academe, to protect Benham Rise, which belongs to the Philippines. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
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