PH working with countries besides China for possible oil exploration

The Philippines is also working with countries other than China for a possible joint oil and gas exploration amid energy challenges in the country, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Friday.

It was in late March when the Chinese Embassy said discussions between the Philippines and China on possible joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea have made "positive progress."

While welcoming this, Garin said the Philippines can also partner with other countries when it comes to joint oil exploration, and not solely with China. 

"Now, the joint exploration with China and Philippines, whichever contract, service contract will be, that's welcome naman. Currently, wala pa pong concrete contract kung ano po (Currently, there's no concrete contract yet). Actually, it's not just China that we are working with. Just so happens that one contract is like beside the nine-dash line. So there might be a need to work together," Garin said. 

She also mentioned that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has signed other service contracts for possible exploration on oil, natural gas, and hydrogen.

"So, nandiyan na po iyong mga kontrata na iyan (So, the contracts are there). It's maybe [a situation that] some are with some Chinese partners, but most of that are different countries of partners, Australia, UK, Israel. Iba't iba po. Hindi po isang bansa lang ang puwede tayong mag-partner (Various countries. We can partner with more than one country). We can partner with countries that are capable of doing exploration," she said.

Data from the Department of Energy in 2020 showed that the West Philippine Sea may hold more than 6 million barrels of oil and over 7 billion cubic feet of natural gas classified as undiscovered resources.

Among the areas believed to be rich in natural gas is Recto Bank, or Reed Bank, which lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but part of China's expansive claim in the South China Sea. — VDV, GMA News