PH eyes bigger share from oil exploration
Source：inquirer.net
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Manila
Update Time：2019/01/11
All oil that may be discovered during the country’s planned joint exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte promised that he will insist that the Philippines should get a larger share.
In a press conference in Puerto Princesa City, the President, citing Palawan’s brownouts, stressed that the country needed the oil more to light up areas without electricity.
“I told China, ‘If there’s oil and you will drill oil there, I will have to insist that we get a bigger share. That’s ours,’” he notes.
He added: “They said, ‘That’s also ours.’ Yes, but that’s ours. So we must get a bigger share. What face will I show in Palawan?”
The President said he needed it to light up parts of the country that were without electricity, as justification for the Philippines’ bigger share should there be oil discovered.
Earlier, Malacañang mentioned the joint oil exploration with China may be undertaken in Service Contract (SC) No. 57 and SC 72.
In the case of SC 57, which is under the Philippines’ exclusive zone, China must comply with Philippine laws.
SC 57 covers 7,120 square kilometers offshore of northwest Palawan. It was awarded to the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corp.
Reportedly, state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp. has shown interest in being a partner in the joint exploration for SC 57.
Later this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the Philippines. The joint oil exploration in the disputed sea is likely to be discussed.
Source：https://globalnation.inquirer.net/170959/ph-eyes-bigger-share-from-oil-exploration