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 
This bill seeks to create the Benham Rise Research and Development Institute, a 
government-funded agency which shall be under the supervision of the Department of 
Science and Technology, to take the lead in all matters pertaining to the research, 
development, exploration, documentation, and conservation of the Benham Rise 
region.  
The Benham 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. Under Article 77 of UNCLOS, the Philippines 
“exercises over the continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring it 
and exploiting its natural resources.” Accordingly, the Philippines has the sovereign 
rights to explore and exploit mineral and genetic resources in the Benham Rise.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 22, 2023
11:39 am
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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 
ESTABLISHING THE BENHAM RISE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
INSTITUTE, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Benham Rise Research 
and Development Institute Act".  
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policyof the State to exercise its sovereign 
right and responsibility in exploring, conserving, managing and developing the natural 
resources within the Benham Rise region and to ensure the effective exercise of our 
jurisdiction in protecting our precious natural heritage. 
To this end, the creation of the Benham Rise Research and Development Institute is 
necessary to provide a dedicated government agency to establish a scientifically-
sound management framework that would address the research, development, 
exploration, conservation and biodiversity concerns of the Benham Rise region.   
Sec. 3. Creation of the Benham Rise Research and Development Institute. – 
There is hereby created a Benham Rise Research and Development Institute, 
hereinafter referred to as the Institute. The Institute shall be under the Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST). 
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It shall be headed by a Director and shall be assisted by an Assistant Director. Both 
shall be appointed by the President. The Director shall be responsible for the 
implementation of policies and the immediate management of the programs and 
operations of the Institute. 
 
Sec. 4. Powers and Functions. – The Institute shall have the following powers and 
functions: 
a)  
Undertake 
research, 
development, 
documentation, 
exploration 
and 
conservation activities in the Benham Rise region; 
b) 
Develop an enforcement plan for biodiversity conservation, fisheries, 
commercial and economic activities in the area; 
c) 
Coordinate with law enforcement agencies to ensure that violators such as 
poachers or illegal commercial fishers will be properly apprehended and 
prosecuted; 
d) 
Enter 
into 
partnerships 
with 
accredited, 
legitimate 
non-government 
organizations and foreign parties interested or involved in similar exploration, 
documentation and conservation activities in the Benham Rise region. 
Provided, that such partnerships shall ultimately redound to the benefit and 
advantage of the Philippine government; 
e) 
Conduct studies focused on the effective and efficient management and 
utilization of resources in the Benham Rise region for food security, climate 
change adaptation, and sustenance of the Filipino people; 
f) 
Recommend policies or action by relevant government agencies as well as 
arrange for their participation in the planning and implementation of the 
programs of the Institute; 
g) 
Apply for, receive, and accept bequests, grants, and donation, of funds, 
equipment, materials and services needed for the attainment of its objectives 
and; 
h) 
Perform such other related activities as may be assigned by the Secretary of 
Science and Technology. 
 
Sec. 5. Organization and Personnel. – The Institute shall also have technical and 
administrative support staff as well as consultants as may be necessary for the 
performance of its mandate. Such consultants may be drawn from the public and 


 
private sectors on consultancy or contractual basis and shall be granted honoraria or 
allowances at such amounts as may be determined in accordance with existing laws, 
rules and regulations. 
 
Sec. 6. Advisory Council. – The Institute shall have an Advisory Council composed 
of the following officials: 
a)  
Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
b) 
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
c) 
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 
d) 
Dean, University of the Philippines Los Baños School of Environmental Science 
and Management (UPLBSESAM); 
e) 
Director, University of the Philippines Marine Science institute (UP-MSI); 
f) 
Director, University of the Philippines Los Baños Institute of Biological Sciences 
(UPLB-IBS); 
g) 
Director, University of the Philippines National Institute for Geological Sciences 
(UP-NIGS); 
h) 
Flag Officer in Command, Philippine Navy; and 
i) 
Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). 
 
Sec. 7. Transfer of Research Functions. – All functions of units in the Department 
of Science and Technology, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, 
and Department of Agriculture and other government agencies invloved in the 
research, exploration, study and conservation of the Benham Rise region shall be 
transferred to the Institute together with applicable appropriations, data, records, 
equipment, property and such personnel as may be necessary. 
 
Sec. 8. Funding. – Such amounts as may be necessary for the operating expenses 
of the Institute for the current calendar year is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
out of any unappropriated funds in the National Treasury. Thereafter, the 
appropriations for the Institute shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 


 
 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter or instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
Sec. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,