Navy says ready to secure drilling ops in West PH Sea vs ‘foreign interference’

Malampaya Shallow Water Platform.  Handout photo

MANILA — The Philippine Navy on Tuesday said it is ready to secure and protect oil exploration and drilling activities within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from any encroachment by a foreign power. 

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“Your Philippine Navy and your AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] are ready to provide security and protection to any effort by the national government to exploit the natural resources within our EEZ," PH Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said. 

"We are prepared to provide protection to any other party that would be working with the Philippine government and to provide security against any interference from any foreign power,” he added. 

Trinidad made this comment when asked if the Navy is capable of securing the drilling operations that will be conducted under the Malampaya Phase 4 (MP4) project following the arrival of the Noble Viking drillship at the offshore Bagong Pag-asa Drill Site in Palawan last Thursday, June 19.

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The drilling campaign aims to augment the capacity of the country’s only natural gas field.

Trinidad said the Navy’s protection will be a “full package” that includes standing naval and aerial patrols.

Under the MP4 project, three wells are being eyed to extend the operations of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project: Camago-3, Malampaya East 1 and Bagong Pag-asa 1.

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