Cusi vows DOE protection to petroleum licensees in West Philippine Sea

The Department of Energy (DOE) is prepared to assert the country’s sovereign rights over oil and other resources in the West Philippine Sea should any foreign power engage in petroleum-related activities there.

“The DOE stands firmly behind any decision and action of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte regarding the assertion of the exclusive licensing authority of the Philippines over petroleum and other resources in the seabed and subsoil of the West Philippine Sea,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement on Wednesday.

During his weekly public address on Monday, Duterte said he would send the Philippines' few warships to the West Philippine Sea once the country starts drilling for oil and other precious resources in the bowels of the region.

“The DOE supports the President’s statement regarding the defense of the resources of the Philippine seabed and subsoil, as this is in accordance with the Constitution and our petroleum laws,” Cusi said.

The Energy chief said under the law, only the Philippine government, through the DOE, may issue licenses to drill in Philippine territory, including its islands, internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf.

“Should any foreign state engage in petroleum activities inside the Philippine petroleum jurisdiction, the DOE shall take the necessary steps to protect our licensees and preserve our resources,” he said.

“It shall defer to the sole prerogative of the President regarding any security option. It shall also conform to any decision that the Department of Foreign Affairs might take regarding the ongoing informal negotiations on oil and gas cooperation with China.”

Tension between the Philippines and China rose anew because of the presence of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef. The Philippines has filed a series of diplomatic protests over this.

Last week, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported its patrols have spotted at least six Chinese warships and 240 Chinese militia vessels scattered in the territorial waters off Kalayaan in Palawan and in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier summoned the Chinese ambassador to the country to tackle its concerns over the presence of Chinese boats at the Julian Felipe Reef.

Duterte lifted the oil exploration moratorium in the West Philippine Sea in October 2020. A “Resume-to-Work” notice was issued by the DOE to the Service Contractors (SC) doing petroleum-related activities in the areas of SC 59, 72, and 75 following the lifting of the moratorium.

“Meanwhile, the DOE continues to develop the uncontested Philippine EEZ and continental shelf through the resumption of petroleum operations by our licensees and the award of new petroleum areas,” Cusi said.

“The Philippines remains in business, COVID-19 and China, notwithstanding,” he added. —KBK, GMA News