Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) — The government will soon lift the ban on marine research in Philippine waters conducted by foreign groups, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Friday.
“We will build the national academic research fleet, and we will lift shortly the moratorium on marine scientific research by foreign governments and institutions,” Esperon said in a media briefing.
Esperon told CNN Philippines that the moratorium was issued by President Rodrigo Durterte mid-2018 after some foreign researchers entered the country even without permission. He added that some applicants also refused to allow Filipino scientists board their vessels – one of the requirements set by the Philippine government.
“So the President pronounced that henceforth it shall be stopped and thus the moratorium,” Esperon said.
Malacañang in February 2018 said foreigners will be allowed to do research as long as they get approval from the National Security Council. The Palace made this clarification after Duterte revoked the permits issued to all foreign researchers in Benham or Philippine Rise, following criticisms on the government’s move to allow Chinese research there. Chinese ship Ke Xue which was then studying Benham Rise, left the country, leaving results of its research to the Filipinos, officials said.
In August this year, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin, Jr. said foreign survey ships may still be allowed in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as long as the research was led by Filipinos.
Esperon said foreign research will be allowed again now “upon the suggestion of the academe.” At the same time, the government will also acquire state-of-the-art research and survey vessels to build the country’s own maritime research capabilities.
“Scientific research is open to all institutions and countries. And by provisions of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea), they simply have to seek the permission of the host littoral country,” Esperon said.
He stressed that this decision has nothing to do with the planned joint oil and gas exploration with China.
Recto Bank or Reed Bank, located west of Palawan, has been floated as the possible site of the joint exploration. China claims it as part of its territorial waters, but the arbitral ruling, which it rejects, says the bank is part of the Philippines’ EEZ and contentinal shelf, where Manila has exclusive sovereign rights.
An earlier exploration in the area has been put on hold following a 2012 presidential order freezing all exploration activities in disputed areas. It was issued by then President Benigno Aquino III amid rising tensions with China. Duterte is expected to also lift this moratorium to make way for the joint exploration.
