Zambales fishers lukewarm about PH-China energy venture in WPS

SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES—As the government renews its interest to pursue joint venture with China to explore oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), fishers in Zambales are ambivalent.

Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, said while the initiative could help address the country’s fuel crisis following the conflict in the Middle East, they remain uneasy about the longer term implications of partnering with China.

“We are very concerned; even if their intentions are good, this could once again become a reason for us to end up deeply indebted to them,” Cuaresma, speaking in Filipino, told the Inquirer on Thursday.

“Can we really trust that China, which has been encroaching on our sovereignty, also has good intentions, or do they have other motives?” he added.

Cuaresma is among fishermen from the coastal communities of Zambales who have experienced multiple harassments from the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the WPS during fishing trips in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Because of the CCG harassment operations, aided by Chinese maritime militia, Zambales fishers had since avoided the shoal, their traditional fishing ground also known as Bajo de Masinloc, and preferred to venture only in municipal waters, limiting their income opportunities.

The recent crisis in the Middle East that caused a surge in fuel prices had further eroded the reduced income of Masinloc fishers.

The war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran starting on Feb. 28 had rattled oil markets and heavily affected the country which is almost wholly dependent on petroleum supply from the Middle East.

According to Cuaresma, gasoline now costs around P103 per liter in Masinloc, while diesel has reached P170 per liter. Fishermen who used to spend around P500 to fuel their small boat every trip now shell out roughly P1,000.

Ryan Jacinto, a fisherman from Subic town who continues to venture near Panatag, has adjusted his operations due to high fuel costs.

Strict parameters

Fishermen like him need to travel for 24 hours to reach the shoal. Before, they spent around P150,000 for diesel every fishing trip there; now their fuel cost has doubled. For now, they are fishing about 37.04 kilometers (20 nautical miles) from Subic, as continuing operations at the shoal would be costly and risk being chased again by the CCG.

That is why the prospect of oil supply from the WPS, expectedly free from price fluctuations linked to geopolitical tensions, is hopeful news for Jacinto.

When asked about the possible joint exploration with China, Jacinto, speaking in Filipino, said: “Good for me, let’s just be practical.”

Meanwhile, the national fishers’ group Pamalakaya called for strict parameters on any proposed joint venture with China, emphasizing that while exploring Philippine oil and gas reserves is necessary, the government must ensure that Filipinos are the ones who truly benefit.

“Beijing should come clean about its intentions in the joint energy venture by assuring the Filipinos that it will refrain from its intimidation activities in our territorial waters, and own its series of violations of international maritime law,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chair, said in a statement.

The group also pointed out that the lack of government support for science, technology, and research and development remains a major stumbling block in fully utilizing the country’s natural resources.

Hicap said if these resources were properly promoted, the country could tap its energy potential without relying on foreign partners. —WITH A REPORT FROM ANDREA GREGORIO