The territorial dispute with China is preventing the Philippines from exploring oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pointed out yesterday. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy, revealed it is definite that the WPS has proven natural gas reserves, but that the Philippines is stymied from developing the area because of the territorial conflict with China. Although it lost to the Philippines its historical claim over most parts of the WPS through the United Nations Arbitration Court two years ago, China continues to bully the Philippines and even reclaimed islets and shoals in the Spratly island chain to house its air and naval forces, he said.

Casayuran, M., & Rosario, B. R. (2018, June 19). Conflict stops PH from exploring oil in WPS. Manila Bulletin, p. 2.