The Department of Energy (DoE) on Wednesday clarified that the government’s decision to resume oil exploration activities in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS) was a “unilateral decision.” This means that local companies awarded with contracts can resume work with or without tapping Chinese partners. “If the service contractors want to negotiate with CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation), they can do that because that is not a precondition for them to resume the work,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi told reporters.

Romero, M. (2020, November 5). WPS exploration sole Phl decision. Daily Tribune, pp. A1, A6.