2 areas considered for Philippines-China joint exploration

MANILA, Philippines — Two areas in the country's exclusive economic zone are being considered for the possible joint exploration between the Philippines and China, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.

"Kung 'di po ako nagkakamali 'yung tinatawag nilang service contract 57 at service contract 72," Roque said, referring to areas in the West Philippine Sea.

SC 57 is a petroleum exploration project located northwest Palawan between China National Offshore Oil Company International Limited, Philippine National Oil Company and Mitra Energy.

Formerly called Geophysical Survey and Exploration Contract 101, SC 72 refers to the Recto Bank located west of Palawan and southwest of the Malampaya gas field.

Roque noted that SC 57 or northwest Palawan is not disputed, making joint exploration possible in the area.

SC 72 or Recto Bank, on the other hand, has a different case.

"Ang problema po yung [SC] 72 may dispute so kinakailangan magkaroon muna ng kasunduan ang dalawang bansa bago po matuloy itong joint exploration na ito," Roque said in a press briefing.

The Malacañang spokesman stressed that the possible joint exploration agreement would be implemented by corporations and not by sovereign states.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that the possible joint exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea will be like "co-ownership."

"Ngayon, offer nila, eh 'di joint exploration. Eh 'di parang co-ownership, parang dalawa tayong may-ari niyan, eh 'di mas maganda 'yan kaysa away," Duterte said in a speech in Marawi City on Wednesday.

Supreme Court Senior Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio had warned that it is against the Constitution to liken the joint exploration in the contested waters to "co-ownership."

Defending Duterte's comment, Roque said that the "co-ownership" remark was "not a betrayal of public trust."

“President just wanted to explain that joint exploration and exploitation will be undertaken by both Philippine and Chinese nationals. Now having said that, you know, ownership is not material here because really the areas that may be subjected to joint development is EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), where we only exercise sovereign rights," Roque said.

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