MGB to start mineral exploration in Philippine Rise
Five-year survey planned
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), an attached bureau to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has embarked on a five-year survey to explore the mineral resources in Philippine Rise, which could be the next big source of huge revenues for the government.
It was in February when DENR spokesperson Jonas Leones said the DENR is looking to spend nearly R1 billion to conduct geological investigation and exploration of minerals within the Philippine Rise, a 25-million hectare shallow continental shelf east of the main island of Luzon.
Philippine Rise, formerly known as Benham Rise, is a seismically active submerged volcanic realm located east of Luzon Island near Cagayan Valley, Aurora and northern Bicol Region.
"Having its mandate and despite resistance from some environmentalists due to the sensitivity of the region’s marine environment and ecosystems, the Marine Geological Survey Division (MGSD) of the MGB took the bold step of launching a geological expedition of the Philippine Rise," MGB said in a statement.
On board the Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio Velasquez (AGR 702), a team composed of geologists and other technical personnel from MGSD and MGB Regional Offices recently conducted singlebeam seismic and bathymetric surveys in the southern part of the region.
The survey, a five-year project, is geared to study the geology of this submerged plateau, determine valuable minerals in the waters, in the seabed and in hydrothermal vents of the region.
It is also aimed at determining geohazard concerns in the deep that could trigger submarine landslides, avalanche and coastal flooding during storms and tectonic upheavals to the adjoining areas.
This expedition is just one of the scientific researches being facilitated by an interagency effort organized by the Coordinated National Marine Scientific Research Initiatives and Related Activities (CONMIRA), MGB pointed out.
CONMIRA is comprised of DENR, MGB, Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), National Mapping and Resource and Information Authority (NMRIA), Philippine Navy, and University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute.