Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 30) — The government is looking into pursuing joint oil and gas exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said during a press briefing Tuesday.
“Pag-aaralan po natin sa ngayon (We are studying that now),” she said.
“Ukol sa mga foreign relations natin, lalong-lalo na those involving contracts, kailangan pa po ng abiso ng ating Department of Foreign Affairs,” she said.
[Translation: We need direction from the Department of Foreign Affairs when it comes to foreign relations — especially on issues involving contracts.]
When asked if the matter had been brought up in any of the meetings with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Angeles said the input of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is crucial.
In a statement released later in the day, the DFA said there are significant legal issues that must be considered before pushing through with a joint oil and gas exploration.
The memorandum of understanding was signed between both countries in 2018. However, Locsin said that three years after, the goal of developing the area’s resources was not achieved.
“As it has always been, the Department is guided by the Constitution on the exploration, development and utilization of natural resources located within the exclusive economic zone, continental shelf and jurisdiction of the Philippines,” it wrote.
In the same month, days after the statement from the previous administration, China said they would work with the government to “advance negotiations” on joint development of oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
The DFA added it will coordinate with the Department of Energy (DOE) on studying such matters, as it also welcomed the appointment of former Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno as co-chairs of the DOE’s law and energy advisory panel.
Over the weekend, Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, told reporters they are ready to help improve the local energy sector.
In June, before it passed the baton to a new government, the Duterte administration announced it terminated such “exploration” talks between the Philippines and China.
