Oceana rallies Silliman University to protect Benham Rise

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — Oceana, an international conservation and advocacy organization, is rallying the support of Silliman University here in ongoing efforts to protect the Philippine Rise, also known as Benham Bank.

Danny Ocampo, Oceana-Philippines’ Oceans campaign manager, on Friday said his group is tapping Silliman University for being a forefront in marine conservation, as it draws support from various sectors to protect the Philippines’ Benham Bank.

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 be from March 19 to 23 at the anthropology museum at the university.

Various issues affecting the Philippine Rise will be discussed during the forum on March 19.

Invited as resource persons are lawyer 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. (PNA)