PH resumes oil and gas exploration in WPS

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Friday said that one of the country’s key benefits following the 2016 Hague Ruling was that it pursued oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea.

Last October, President Rodrigo Duterte lifted the moratorium on oil and gas exploration in the West Philippines set by former President Benigno Aquino III due to tensions with China over their claim.

Cusi’s office has since endorsed the awarding of three new petroleum service contracts located in the West Philippine Sea to the Office of the President.

“These activities are concrete and explicit forms of the enforcement of sovereign rights consistent with our real gains in the South China Sea Arbitral Award,” said Cusi.

He added that the service contracts are all in the exploration stage, which includes activities such as the studying of the geological and geophysical characteristics of the area and conducting on-site surveys and drilling activities.

“The DOE is consistently monitoring the progress of each project and ensuring that the service contractors’ commitments are being fulfilled,”  Cusi added.

SOURCE: PNA