Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to allow Filipino service contractors to continue their oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea without any backing from China.

“Unless China honors our victory over our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the WPS, there can be no genuine joint venture,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Kailangan pati ang mga Pilipinong kumpanya na pinayagan nang mag-explore sa ating mga karagatan ay makiisa sa panawagan ng bansa na protektahan ang ating soberenya, (Filipino companies who were allowed to explore in our seas should support the call to protect our sovereignty),” the senator said.

President Duterte had earlier lifted the moratorium on oil exploration in the disputed waters last month.

Filipino company PXP Energy started joint venture discussions with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), one of the largest national oil companies owned by the People’s Republic of China.

Hontiveros said in 2011, a survey ship by PXP Energy was harassed by Chinese boats in resource-rich Recto Bank.

“We must not forget such incidents because China started this hostility in our own waters. What assurance can Beijing give that it will not do the same now?” she said.

“Kaya ko din hinihingi sa DOE o sa Senate Committee on Energy ang memorandum of understanding (MOU) natin with China. Dapat mabusisi ito at baka tayo pala ang dehado, (This is the reason why I’m asking the DOE and the Senate Energy Committee for a copy of the MOU with China. We need to scrutinize it because it we might be at a disadvantage),” she added.

Hontiveros said that the wealth of gas and oil in Recto Bank alone must urge the DOE to claim it unilaterally. Based on the agency’s own study, Recto Bank can provide natural gas worth an estimated US$ 19.9-billion as well as oil worth US$2.1-billion.

She also said experts have estimated that the reserves at Recto Bank alone can supply the country’s natural gas and oil for as long as a century.

“We, in the Senate, are ensuring that our national budget for 2021 is robust enough to usher the country into recovery. Hindi din maikakaila na ikalalakas din ng ating ekonomiya ang mabibigay na yaman ng WPS (We cannot deny that resources in the WPS can help strengthen our economy),” the lawmaker added.

“Kaya dapat natin itong protektahan, alagaan, at angkinin. Hindi lang dahil kailangan natin ito, kundi dahil karapatan natin ito (That is why we need to protect, care and claim this. Not because we need to, but because it is our right),” she said.