Sinabi ni Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla na mananatiling suspindido ang ‘oil drilling’ sa Recto Bank sa West Philippine Sea.
Ngunit aniya maari naman ituloy ng gobyerno ang ‘oil and gas exploration’ sa ibang lugar.
Magugunita na Pebrero ng nakaraang taon nang tapusin ng nakaraang administrasyon ang mga pag-uusap sa China ukol sa ‘joint oil and gas exploration’ sa West Philippine Sea.
Ngunit sa pagbisita kamakailan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., sa China nagkasundo sila ni Chinese President Xi Jinping na pag-aralan ang pagpapatuloy ng pag-uusap.
“The agreement was to resume negotiations or talks so we do not have any agreement on moving forward yet with the actual carrying out of activities in the Recto Bank,” paliwanag ng kalihim.
Nasa loob ng 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas ang Recto Bank ngunit inaangkin ito ng China.
“We will be open to foreign and domestic investors carrying out the development activities. In the case of PNOC Exploration Corp., it has announced an invitation for potential farm-ins to a number of service contracts that are under the control of the PNOC,” sabi pa ng kalihim.