Carpio urges gov't to start gas exploration in Reed Bank

Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio urges the government to begin gas exploration of Reed Bank in the West Philippine Sea, which may have a tremendous impact on the country's economy.

"So the most important thing before the end of the year dapat mag-survey na tayo sa Reed Bank. Kasi yan talaga, pag hindi tayo na-survey, it takes 4 years to develop at the minimum, 4 years to develop the gas field," said Carpio in The Mangahas Interviews.

This, as Carpio warned that the Philippines would soon need another source for gas. 

"'Pag nawala ang Malampaya, mga 12-14 hours daily brownout tayo sa Luzon. Devastating yan sa economy natin. So yan ang pinakamalaking problema natin kasi pag walang energy, hinto lahat. Magsasara ang mga factory, opisina, cannot maintain regular hours lasi walang power, wala kang zoom. So I think critical ito," explained Carpio.

"We have to connect the pipeline from Reed Bank to Malampaya para we can use the existing pipeline to Batangas. So it will take a minimum of 4 years. So talagang tatamaan tayo. So that should be a priority."

Gas exploration in the Reed Bank, however, comes with a lot of challenges, particularly China's aggressive territorial claim in the area.

An arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, has invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea and ruled that no country can claim sovereign rights over the shoal, saying it is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese fishermen.

China has refused to recognize the ruling and remains aggressive in its territorial claim. 

Back in July, a "huge swarm" of Chinese vessel were spotted in the area during an air patrol conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

Carpio, meanwhile, says it may be time for the Philippines to turn to its allies to push through with the gas exploration in Reed Bank. 

"Ang solution diyan, we have to have a joint patrol... Kailangan kasama ang navy natin together with the joint patrol with the US. Ganyan ang solusyon ng Malaysia e," said Carpio. 

"Sabi ng China hindi pwede kasi that's within the 9-line. Tinuloy ng Malaysia. Pinadala nila ang kanilang survey and drilling ship together with the Navy. At the same time ‘yung US at saka Australian warships nag-conduct nga naval drills in the same area," expounded Carpio.

"Walang magawa ang Chinese Coast Guard, so natapos ng Malaysia," he added. 

Carpio, however, also insists that the Philippines should continue to boost its defense capabilities to fend off any aggression in its territorial waters. 

"Dapat we have credible self-defense... Kasi there may be a day in the future, we don't know, I hope it will not happen, the US will say pagod na kami dito or bahala ng China dito," noted Carpio.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News