Benham Rise, also known as Benham Plateau, is a seismically active undersea region east of Luzon, off the provinces of Isabela and Aurora. Formed by intraplate igneous activity, the Benham Rise region spans about 24.4 million hectares—with 11.4 million hectares within the country’s exclusive economic zone and 13 million hectares as extended continental shelf (ECS). The shallowest part in Benham Rise, which is less than 50 m deep, is called the Benham Bank. Under the Unclos, a coastal state’s exclusive economic zone extends 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles) from its continental shelf, while its extended continental shelf (ECS) extends for another 278 km (150 nautical miles). The ECS in the Benham Rise region has an area of 135,506 sq km (13.5 million hectares), equivalent to about half of the country’s land area.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 18, 2017 18:45 UTC