Filipinos barred by the Chinese coast guard from fishing in Scarborough Shoal (also known as Panatag Shoal) off Zambales province have recently found a device reportedly used in exploring for oil. The equipment, which bore Chinese characters, was confirmed by an expert to be an ocean bottom seismometer or OBS, according to the Peoples Development Institute (PDI), a partner of the fishers federation Bigkis ng Mangingisda. PDI is a nongovernment organization helping people’s organizations in rural areas.

Orejas, T. (2021, July 21). PH waters yield device for oil exploration. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A8.