By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News Published July 7, 2021 12:17pm Screengrab from Oceana PHL The House committee on natural resources approved Wednesday the still unnumbered substitute bill of the measure seeking to declare a portion of the Philippine Rise as a protected area, with the category of marine resource reserve, under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). House Bill 36 or the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR) Act was authored by Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon. The bill aims to protect portions of the Philippine Rise region, namely the Benham Bank and its surrounding waters, through sustainable and participatory management, taking into consideration all applicable laws and international conventions to which the Philippines is a signatory.