BY RUBEN D. MANAHAN 4TH REPORTER
A MINDANAO congressman denounced the oil drilling explorations being made in the South Sulu Sea made by the Exxonmobil Exploration and Production Philippines BV.
Rep. Tupay Loong of Sulu said that the oil explorations, now on its third phase, were made without the consent of the province’s local government.
“The oil drilling explorations conducted at the Sulu Sea [should be investigated] to ensure the active participation of the people of Sulu and . . . protect and preserve our rich biodiversity without sacrificing real contributions to our economic growth and general welfare,” Loong said, seeking for a congressional inquiry on the project through House Resolution (HR) 30.
HR 30 is set to ask the appropriate committee to conduct investigations on the said operation.
He said that the drilling operations started since October 2009 under the Department of Energy (DOE) Service Contract-56 (SC-56). The DOE-SC 56 is part of the Philippine government’s efforts to encourage investments in the energy sector leading to energy security for the country.
Loong said that the company’s continuous disregard of the rights of the people of Sulu violates Section 2 of Article XII of the 1987 Constitution on National Economy and Patrimony.
“The exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State. The State may directly undertake such activities, or it may enter into co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens, or corporations or associations at least 60 per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens,” Loong said citing the said provision of the Constitution.
“The President may enter into agreements with foreign-owned corporations involving either technical or financial assistance for large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of minerals, petroleum, and other mineral oils according to the general terms and conditions provided by law, based on real contributions to the economic growth and general welfare of the country,” he added.
According to him, the Sulu Sea is part of the territorial waters and national patrimony of the Province of Sulu, which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“Any contract entered into by the national government pertaining to the Sulu Sea should be with primary concern of the people of Sulu. This is even strengthened by Republic Act 9054 on the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao wherein the people of the Sulu Archipelago is given the opportunity to participate in decision making,” he explained.
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/24072-congressman-decries-sulu-oil-exploration-
