Inaprubahan na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang rekomendasyon ng Department of Energy (DOE) na pag-alis sa suspensyon ng petroleum activities sa West Philippine Sea.
“I thank the President for approving the DOE recommendation. We need to explore so we may address the country’s energy security,” ani Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi.
Ayon sa kalihim, nasa posisyon ang kagawaran para i-regulate ang exploration sa indigeous energy resources. Nakasaad daw ito sa probisyon ng Republic Act No. 7638 o Department of Energy Act of 1992.
“With the impending depletion of our natural gas reserve in Malampaya, it is the department’s position that there is an urgent imperative to resume exploration, development, and production activities within our EEZ to ensure continuity of supply of indigenous resources in the country.”
Naglabas na raw ng resume-to-work ang Energy department sa service contractors na naapektuhan ang petroleum-related activities sa SC 59, 72, at 75 dahil sa West Philippine Sea dispute.
Ang Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC) at Forum Ltd., ang nago-operate sa SC 59 at 72. Samantalang PXP Energy Corporation sa SC 75.
Iginiit ni Cusi na makakatulong sa ekonomiya ng bansa ang lifting ng suspensyon. Hahakot daw kasi ito ng mga bagong foreign investments at magbubukas sa mga bagong trabaho, na parehong mahalaga dahil sa epekto ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Napapanahon din daw ang lifting sa nagsimula nang negosasyon ng Pilipinas at China, at Forum Ltd. at China National Offshore Corporation.
“The lifting of the suspension places the service contractors under legal obligation to put capital into the contract areas and hire Filipino engineers and technical workers to resume exploration.”
“The oasis of peace that the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs envision must also be an oasis of prosperity. For this to happen, the Philippines must restart its economy using the engine of energy resiliency and security,” ani Cusi sa kanyang sulat kay DFA Sec. Teodoro Locsin, Jr.
Magugunitang sinuspinde ng Aquino administration ang lahat ng exploration at drilling activities sa naturang bahagi ng karagatan noong 2014 dahil sa tensyon ng estado at Beijing.
Taong 2016 nang kilalanin ng Permanent Court of Arbitration ang sovereign rights ng Pilipinas sa pinag-aagawang bahagi ng karagatan, matapos ibasura ang “nine-dash line” argument ng China.
