Hinimok ni Senator Sherwin Gatchalian ang administrasyon na depensahan ang Benham Rise sa harap ng panghihimasok doon ng China ilang araw makaraang kumpirmahin ng Department of National Defense na tatlong buwang nanatili sa lugar, malapit sa Dinapigue, Isabela, ang survey ship ng China noong nakaraang taon.
“We are now only beginning to discover the true potential of the Benham Rise to make unique contributions to our country’s ecological and economic prospects. The government must take immediate act to defend our exclusive sovereignty over the Benham Rise to ensure that this potential will be developed and utilized to benefit the Filipino people,” ani Gatchalian.
Una nang inihayag ni Gatchalian na suportado niya ang pagtatatag ng Benham Rise Development Authority (BRDA) sa ilalim ng National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), alinsunod sa panukala ni Sen. Sonny Angara.
(Leonel M. Abasola)
