Talks on the framework of a joint oil and gas exploration with China over the West Philippine Sea is still ongoing, although they have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the Energy Department said over the weekend.
“Under the disputed area, we are saying we have an MOU with China on how to go on a possible joint exploration so that we can exploit and make use of whatever resources are available in the area for the use of our country,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
“We are still working on that. We are still working on the way forward on how we can proceed with the joint exploration,” he said.
He said the second meeting for the framework was supposed to be held in February but did not push through due to the COVID-19.
“We continue to pursue, we continue to discuss this with China…We are just exploring legal framework, operational framework,” he said.