Malacañang confirms foreign researchers are prohibited from conducting maritime explorations in Benham Rise, which is officially known as the Philippine Rise.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this statement in a press briefing.
"I confirm President Duterte's order that only Filipinos are allowed to conduct scientific research in the Philippine Rise," Roque said.
He explained, "it's not really a ban but a directive that we want Filipinos to do it. We are reserving it for Filipinos."
The order may have an effect on a current research reportedly being done by a Chinese agency in the 13-million hectare continental shelf.
A Chinese vessel dispatched by the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences is said to have arrived in the country for this purpose.
The research was supposed to last for a month.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol earlier quoted President Duterte as having said, "the Philippine Rise is ours and any insinuation that it is open to everybody should end with this declaration."
Wikipedia describes Benham Rise, or the Philippine Rise, as a seismically active undersea region and an extinct volcanic ridge located in the Philippine Sea about 250 kilometers east of the northern coastline of Dinapigue, Isabela.