For the country’s sovereign rights to be guaranteed and protected in any joint exploration deal that it will enter into with other governments, including China, on the extraction of oil and gas resources at the West Philippine Sea, it has been proposed that such step must be duly underpinned by a legislation passed by the Philippine Congress. The proposed law, according to Dr. Jay L. Batongbacal, associate dean of the University of the Philippines-College of Law, must ensure the “no prejudice” tenet, “because one of our biggest problems in entering into joint development agreements – it might be seen as acquiescence or acceptance of China’s claims or a waiver on our exclusive rights.” He added “the legislation has to make it very clear that any action or agreement that we enter into like this – there’s really no prejudice in our position – it’s really more of a pragmatic measure, it has no legal impact.”

Velasco, M. M. (2020, August 19). Legislation pushed for joint WPS exploration. Manila Bulletin, p. B-4.