Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines submitted its claim for an extended continental shelf in the Philippine 
Rise Region to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf 
(UNLCS) in 2009. The UNCLCS confirmed the Philippine Rise as part Philippines' 
extended continental shelf in 2012. 
On May 6, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order No. 25 renaming 
Benham Rise to "Philippine Rise". The Philippine Rise is a 13-million-hectare 
underwater plateau, largely unexplored, and is said to be larger than Luzon with 
potentially rich deposits of natural gas and other resources such as heavy metals. 
This bill seeks to solidify the sovereign will of the people by renaming, through 
legislative fiat, the Benham Rise as "Philippine Rise" or "Talampas ng Pilipinas" amidst 
competing maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 23, 2023
5:18 pm
8321


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
RENAMING THE BENHAM RISE AS "PHILIPPINE RISE" OR "TALAMPAS NG 
PILIPINAS," NAMING THE UNDERSEA FEATURES THEREIN, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. In the exercise of the Philippine's inherent right to designate the names 
of its submarine areas, the undersea region found on the east of Luzon, which is 
formerly known as "Benham Rise," is hereby named as "Philippine Rise" or 
“Talamapas ng Pilipinas” 
Sec. 2. The twenty-two (22) undersea features found in Philippine Rise or Talampas 
ng Pilipinas shall be known as follows: 
Name 
Coordinates 
1 
Akle Seamount 
POLYGON ((126.33848 18.47302, 126.33018 18.46093, 
126.33279 18.44551,126.34868 18.43958, 126.352 
18.42345, 126.3252 18.40447, 126.31144 18.39238, 
126.3131 18.38004, 126.32615 18.37672, 126.33729 
18.38787, 126.36007 18.40376, 126.37928 18.37459, 
126.40015 18.36249, 18.36913, 126.45732 126.49147 
18.37411, 18.41538,126.44759 126.43312 18.46733, 
18.47919, 126.40134 126.40561 18.52307, 18.52568, 
8321


 
126.35133 126.30978 18.51287, 18.48299, 126.31974 
126.42885 18.35537, 126.43976 18.36913, 126.47772 
18.36889, 126.49574 18.39475, 126.46348 18.43317, 
126.45328 18.45215, 126.4215 18.46235, 126.40181 
18.49959, 126.41154 18.5124, 126.37952 18.51809, 
126.36315 18.51777, 126.34963 18.50599, 126.29721 
18.50149, 126.30504 18.48773, 126.33848 18.47302)) 
2 
Amugis Hill 
POLYGON ((124.59511 15.87461, 124.59427 15.86748, 
124.59662 15.86059, 124.60073 15.85655, 124.61239 
15.86319, 124.61493 15.8667, 124.61451 15.87679, 
124.61282 15.88228, 124.60828 15.88295, 124.60158 
15.87956, 124.59511 15.87461)) 
3 
Antipolo Hill 
POLYGON ((124.46231 15.97932, 124.45644 15.97597, 
124.44597 15.96745, 124.43983 15.96158, 124.43661 
15.94957, 124.4408 15.92947, 124.45616 15.92514, 
124.47069 15.92954, 124.47243 15.93491, 124.47355 
15.94308, 124.46706 15.95781, 124.47083 15.96514, 
124.46426 15.97143, 124.46231 15.97932)) 
4 
Anubing Seamount 
POLYGON ((124.24981 16.39809, 124.246 16.39794, 
124.23956 16.39267, 124.23092 16.37041, 124.21906 
16.35327, 124.21364 16.34741, 124.21686 16.34448, 
124.23282 16.34653, 124.24366 16.32998, 124.26182 
16.31563, 124.29185 16.31285, 124.32143 16.31739, 
124.33051 16.33657, 124.33725 16.35635, 124.33095 
16.36821, 124.28936 16.37744, 124.25684 16.38461, 
124.24981 16.39809)) 
5 
Bayog Saddle 
POLYGON ((124.1578 16.70452, 124.11307 16.68175, 
124.08358 16.60326, 124.09029 16.53393, 124.09822 
16.50302, 124.1395 16.46195, 124.18057 16.40379, 
124.19135 16.41965, 124.18464 16.50831, 124.20945 
16.56707, 124.24239 16.62034, 124.23344 16.63702, 
124.20497 16.67524, 124.17854 16.70005, 124.1578 
16.70452)) 


 
6 
Bicol Saddle 
POLYGON ((123.50595 15.67579, 123.47556 15.52431, 
123.55037 15.55002, 123.6219 15.51075, 123.65697 
15.54021, 123.75235 15.54208, 123.78648 15.46166, 
123.89401 15.58182, 123.81593 15.61267, 123.73177 
15.61221, 123.71728 15.58789, 123.67333 15.5715306, 
123.63265 15.58743, 123.59946 15.58322, 123.5513 
15.61782, 123.50595 15.67579)) 
7 
Bicol Slope 
POLYGON ((122.74621 15.3576, 122.71738 14.86041, 
122.95517 14.75233, 123.78381 14.7127, 124.0288 
14.41727, 124.5476 13.90927, 124.57642 13.66068, 
124.27379 13.4301, 124.36746 13.17791, 124.89707 
13.05181, 125.24654 13.25357, 125.23213 13.65348, 
125.02317 14.03537, 124.77097 14.52175, 124.48275 
14.93967, 124.27379 15.12702, 123.84145 15.44046, 
123.56404 15.56656, 123.09568 15.53413, 122.74621 
15.3576)) 
8 
East Luzon Trough 
POLYGON ((122.50232 15.67898, 122.82273 15.48532, 
123.28853 15.54916, 123.16887 15.78853, 123.00043 
15.82548, 122.91165 15.94017, 123.25093 16.93462, 
123.52632 17.32731, 123.69195 17.3984, 123.85118 
17.7518, 123.5683 17.82659, 123.45799 17.50203, 
123.11414 17.04287, 122.93655 17.01346, 122.50232 
15.67898)) 
9 
Ipil Hill 
POLYGON ((125.49385 16.87911, 125.48602528398 
16.8117410016766, 
125.512537747291 
16.7517619863167, 
125.564258782275 
16.743069375395, 
125.599898487054 
16.7926172576488, 
125.630757255826 
16.8599849922922, 
125.627714842004 
16.914313810553, 
125.609025728522 
16.9564729735233, 
125.567301196098 
16.9803776535581, 
125.535573166234 


 
16.9686426288137, 
125.520795727667 
16.9073597218156, 125.49385 16.87911)) 
10 
Isabela Ridge 
POLYGON ((123.40526 17.67204, 123.4113 17.60116, 
123.41006 17.52553, 123.36441 17.4898, 123.37364 
17.44946, 123.41544 17.47347, 123.45683 17.53449, 
123.47109 17.61005, 123.50286 17.6815, 123.5519 
17.79038, 123.53016 17.80854, 123.49935 17.80902, 
123.47762 17.78737, 123.40526 17.67204)) 
11 
Kalantas Seamount 
POINT (124.39312 16.76329) 
12 
Malabatino Hill 
POLYGON ((124.90724 16.69051, 124.89447 16.68993, 
124.89005 16.67883, 124.89145 16.67192, 124.88913 
16.6696, 124.88837 16.66321, 124.89383 16.66083, 
124.90591 16.66135, 124.90963 16.66565, 124.9141 
16.67779, 124.90724 16.69051)) 
13 
Mangkono Seamount 
POLYGON ((127.29233 16.9857, 127.28132 16.95893, 
127.29319 16.92741, 127.33486 16.91273, 127.36746 
16.92525, 127.3802 16.96778, 127.3992 16.99153, 
127.4264 16.99801, 127.4223 17.01247, 127.39315 
17.02953, 127.35904 17.02457, 127.34609 17.01183, 
127.31284 17.00233, 127.29233 16.9857)) 
14 
Molave Rise 
POLYGON ((126.36253 16.08516, 126.35749 15.87181, 
126.60443 15.99276, 126.5154 15.74246, 126.66323 
15.53919, 126.85474 15.41488, 127.06472 15.52239, 
127.27135 15.58623, 127.49477 15.62655, 127.77364 
15.66182, 128.23224 15.64838, 128.17681 15.79118, 
127.93826 15.87013, 128.05586 15.89701, 127.9937 
16.05156, 127.69468 16.11203, 127.55525 16.23467, 
127.1168 16.55048, 126.83122 16.47825, 126.74555 
16.33882, 126.51876 16.07172, 126.36253 16.08516)) 
15 
Molave Gap 
POLYGON ((126.33945 16.05579, 126.3529 16.01117, 
126.3529 15.9861, 126.32722 15.9586, 126.30338 
15.9103, 126.30094 15.87607, 126.38285 15.88157, 
126.37674 15.90358, 126.38224 15.92008, 126.36207 


 
15.9482, 126.37307 15.9751, 126.39447 15.99955, 
126.40241 16.01728, 126.40669 16.03623, 126.40853 
16.06374, 126.33945 16.05579)) 
16 
Narig Seamount 
POLYGON ((124.68663 16.57244, 124.69638 16.47406, 
124.72402 16.44642, 124.77646 16.44276, 124.82687 
16.49805, 124.84598 16.56512, 124.78012 16.64358, 
124.73703 16.64276, 124.72728 16.60008, 124.68663 
16.57244)) 
17 
Narra Spur 
POLYGON ((125.47458 17.54664, 126.05975 17.03722, 
126.20716 17.71323, 126.55493 18.30067, 126.90694 
18.40245, 127.03417 18.56361, 127.12323 18.82232, 
126.96207 18.82656, 126.54645 18.68236, 126.05024 
18.61026, 126.12658 18.41093, 126.05461 18.21519, 
125.90091 18.02896, 125.47458 17.54664)) 
18 
Palanan Seamount 
POLYGON ((123.08189 17.38776, 123.03401 17.34207, 
123.00414 17.2507, 122.98613 17.19008, 122.97251 
17.14483, 123.02215 17.11804, 123.07794 17.11584, 
123.14427 17.12902, 123.16052 17.18305, 123.14339 
17.26959, 123.11044 17.35657, 123.08189 17.38776)) 
19 
Palosapis Hill 
POLYGON ((124.9481 16.46351, 124.94441 16.44899, 
124.93985 16.44825, 124.93998 16.4448, 124.94687 
16.4357, 124.95191 16.4304, 124.94945 16.42253, 
124.95511 16.4117, 124.95819 16.41096, 124.96963 
16.41071, 124.98034 16.41354, 124.99339 16.42671, 
124.99659 16.43557, 124.99191 16.44382, 124.98994 
16.45243, 124.98366 16.45871, 124.97431 16.46363, 
124.96459 16.46462, 124.9481 16.46351)) 
20 
Pili Ridge 
POLYGON ((124.97196 16.12906, 124.96104 16.1295, 
124.95143 16.11858,124.93659 16.064, 124.98942 
16.03692, 125.04095 15.99893, 125.08069 15.97317, 
125.11606 15.97361, 125.11999 16.0081, 125.08462 
16.04915, 125.06846 16.07535, 125.04051 16.095, 


 
125.02567 16.11596, 125.00907 16.1129, 124.98637 
16.12164, 124.97196 16.12906)) 
21 
Toog Seamount 
POLYGON ((125.84045 17.84893, 125.75722 17.77524, 
125.67664 17.70632, 125.67452 17.66709, 125.69149 
17.65013, 125.76306 17.63475, 125.82773 17.58651, 
125.89347 17.56001, 125.92899 17.55364, 126.0101 
17.60878, 126.03024 17.66179, 126.02388 17.75244, 
126.02123 17.80811, 125.97829 17.83408, 125.92262 
17.85794, 125.88499 17.86271, 125.84045 17.84893)) 
22 
Yakal Seamount 
POINT (126.28086 18.23918)  
 
 
Sec. 2. Pursuant to this Act, all official maps and charts of the Philippines to be 
produced and published by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority 
(NAMRIA) shall refer to the abovementioned undersea region as Philippine Rise or 
Talampas ng Pilipinas. 
 
Sec. 3. The Philippine Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 
in consultation with NAMRIA and other relevant government agencies, shall deposit a 
copy of this Act and other relevant documents with the Secretary-General of the United 
Nations and notify accordingly all relevant international and intergovernmental 
organizations, 
such 
as 
the 
United 
Nations 
Statistical 
Commission, 
the 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Group of Experts 
on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), and the International Hydrographic Organization 
(IHO), among others. 
 
Sec. 4. All departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the 
Government are hereby directed to use and employ the name Philippine Rise or 
Tamlampas ng Pilipinas in all communications, messages, and public documents, and 
to popularize the use of such name with the general public, both domestically and 
internationally.  
 


 
All departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government are 
enjoined to use the official Philippine maps produced and published by NAMRIA in 
accordance with this Act: Provided that, the Department of Education and the 
Commission on Higher Education shall cause the distribution of said official Philippine 
maps to all schools, colleges, and universities, both public and private, as reference 
material for teaching geography and other related disciplines. 
 
Sec. 5. All private institutions, organizations, and establishments organized under the 
laws of the Philippines or operating within the Philippines are hereby directed to 
employ the name Philippine Rise or Tamalampas ng Pilipinas and the names adopted 
in this Act for its undersea features in all communications, announcements, and 
messages, both domestically and internationally. 
 
Sec. 6. Should any part or provision of this Act be held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
other parts or provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
 
Sec. 7. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or any 
part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, 
or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,