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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Dalipe's bold suggestion to Marcos after trilateral summit: Explore Recto Bank

Dalipe's bold suggestion to Marcos after trilateral summit: Explore Recto Bank

Published Apr 14, 2024 09:52 am

At A Glance

  • House Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe on Sunday, April 14 called on President Marcos "to consider starting oil and gas exploration in Recto Bank". 
  • Recto Bank, which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), is part of the contested Spratly Islands in the WPS. 
  • Former president Rodrigo Duterte's administration reportedly had an agreement for a "joint development" with regional power China as far as Recto Bank is concerned. 

IMG-e6d92822a7cfc3b2d32c3f6248b64af2-V.jpgPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate/ MANILA BULLETIN)



Here's a bold suggestion to President Marcos on the heels of his triumphant participation in the trilateral summit with United States (US) President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

House Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe on Sunday, April 14 called on Marcos "to consider starting oil and gas exploration in Recto Bank".

Dalipe notes that Recto Bank is believed to hold natural gas deposits much larger than that of Malampaya, which is the country's sole existing source of natural gas.

Malampaya, which supplies much of the fuel needs of power plants in Luzon, is projected to dry up in a few years, specifically in 2027.

"When that happens, the country may have to import natural gas and crude oil, which may be more expensive and may result in increased electricity cost," the Mindanao congressman said.

Recto Bank, which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), is part of the contested Spratly Islands in the WPS.

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/14/listen-to-trilateral-summit-declarations-house-leader-tells-china


The Department of Energy (DOE) had previously estimated that the Recto Bank basin could be holding 3,486 billion cubic feet of natural gas, on top of a potential 165 million barrels of oil.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte's administration reportedly had an agreement for a "joint development" with regional power China as far as Recto Bank is concerned.

This makes Dalipe's proposal a contentious one, especially given the current state of Philippine-China relations.

Duterte, widely known as a friend to Beijing, is now one of the more vocal critics of the Marcos administration.

The participants of the trilateral summit--Marcos, Biden, and Kishida--essentially told off China for its aggressive behavior in both the South China Sea, where the WPS is located; and the East China Sea.

Biden--like other American presidents before him--has reiterated the US has the Philippines' back.

Related Tags

mannix dalipe Recto Bank natural gas Rodrigo Duterte West Philippine Sea
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