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The Kalayaan, Panatag & other disputed islands; Future conflict zones?
Topic Started: Feb 2 2005, 08:00 PM (156,028 Views)
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What's RECTO Bank?

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GMANews.tv video
[dohtml]<iframe src="http://www.gmanews.tv/evideo/85628/saksi-pnoy-iginiit-na-pag-aari-ng-pilipinas-ang-recto-bank-sa-spratlys" frameborder="0" style="width:480px; height:400px; display:block; background: black;" scrolling="no">This page requires a higher version browser</iframe><br /><a href="http://www.gmanews.tv/">For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV</a>[/dohtml]
Quote:
 
So far, Forum Energy is the only service contractor conducting exploration in the Recto Bank.

In the past, government has been helpful especially when Forum Energy conducted seismic activities at the South China Sea, Pangilinan said.

A 3D seismic survey covering 248 square kilometers in 2006 placed the potential reserves at 3.4 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Sampaguita discovery in the Recto Bank basin.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/227469/busines...ank-gas-project

Maps, stats needed on Recto Bank, etc.
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) Updated June 17, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)

Filipinos need basic info on the Recto Bank and Spratly issues. A good start is the government reuse of “West Philippine Sea” to refer to that part of the South China Sea within Philippine territory. Another old term for it, from old atlases, is “Luzon Sea”.

Also now in use are Filipino names for the islands, cays, reefs, shoals and banks that the Philippines possesses or claims. Like, Scarborough Shoal is Bajo de Masinloc, indisputably part of the town of Masinloc, Zambales, but which China tried to grab in 1997. Commodore is Rizal Reef, in Palawan’s southwest, where Malaysian frogmen in the 1980s planted their flag, prompting the Philippine Navy to shell it.

Still, Filipinos need a crash course on simple geology. Like, what’s the difference between an island and a cay, aside from the former having a fresh water source? Or if a shoal is but a bar astride or between coral reefs or rocks, and a bank is an elevation on a shelf.

* * *

Kalayaan is a municipality of Palawan consisting of seven islets in the Spratlys occupied by Filipino troops, plus one reef. Established in 1978 by Presidential Decree 1596, it has one barangay, Pag-asa, the biggest island (37.2 hectares). A mayor and town council govern the 300 or so civilians, mostly fishermen, goatherds and scientists. Electricity is from a backyard of solar panels.

Pag-asa has an airstrip 1,260 meters long, adjacent to a seaport, for the Air Force and Navy to land troop supplies. The six other islets are Likas (18.6 has.), Parola (12.7 has.), Lawak (7.9 has.), Kota (6.45 has.), Patag (0.57 ha.), and Panata (0.44 ha.); Ayungin Reef completes the list.

The Kalayaan Island Group is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This EEZ is delineated in PD 1599. But being at the edge of the Spratly archipelago, the Philippine claim is disputed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. The three countries claim all of the Spratlys as theirs; Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines only some islets within their EEZs.

ASEAN and China signed in 2002 a Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The pact calls for military restraint and joint exploration of the marine resources in the disputed Spratlys.

* * *

Recto (international name Reed) Bank, like Bajo de Masinloc and Rizal Reef, is indisputably within Philippine boundaries. It rests on the Philippine continental shelf, 80 miles (148 kilometers) off northwest Palawan.

Adjoining Malampaya, Matinsloc and Linapacan oil and gas wells, Recto Bank is said to contain similar fuel resources. This explains the belated claim on it by China, 876 miles (1,066 kilometers) distant. Explorations by British-owned Forum Energy estimated Sampaguita Field, in Recto Bank’s southern section, to hold 3.4 trillion cubic feet of gas, atop 440 million barrels of oil. This is slightly lower than Malampaya’s, the Philippines’ biggest field.

Forum Energy finally got a permit to mine gas only recently. For years, after financing the Recto Bank exploration at millions of dollars, the government refused to grant it a service contract. This was because President Gloria Arroyo included the Recto Bank in late 2004 in a Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) with China.

Exposed only upon expiration in March 2008, the JMSU was criticized as unconstitutional. For it gave China, and later Vietnam, the right to explore Philippine natural resources. Although in the nature of an international treaty, the JMSU was never submitted to the Senate for ratification. Arroyo released $5 million a year for three years as Philippine contribution, without consent of the House of Reps.

* * *

Lawyers saw treason and plunder in the JMSU. The deal was supposed to be for joint exploration in “disputed waters” of the South China Sea, meaning the Spratlys. But four-fifths of the 142,886-square-kilometer coverage was in the Recto Bank. Arroyo in effect gave China the excuse to lay claim to the area that up until then was never disputed. In exchange, China gave the Philippines $2 billion a year in loans padded with at least 20-percent kickbacks. These were disguised in 65 anomalous deals, among them the NBN-ZTE and Diwalwal-ZTE scams, Northrail, Southrail, and the lease of a million hectares of farmlands to China.

In 2009 China included the Recto Bank and Palawan oilfields in its “nine-dash line” territorial assertion over most of the South China Sea. Since March 2011 it has intruded seven times in the Recto Bank and harassed Philippine exploratory and fishing vessels.

* * *

The government must publish, through popular media, a map of the disputed Kalayaan Islands and the Recto Bank. This would support its announcements of efforts militarily to secure Philippine territory and diplomatically to resolve overlapping claims.

In the meantime, professional and amateur cartographers might wish to plot the nine corners of the JMSU coverage, to see the sellout of Philippine territory:

CORNER LONGITUDE LATITUDE

1 118º 00’ 00” 10º 52’ 00”

2 117º 00’ 00” 08º 55’ 00”

3 112º 54’ 00” 08º 55’ 00”

4 112º 54’ 00” 09º 50’ 00”

5 113º 57’ 00” 09º 50’ 00”

6 113º 57’ 00” 11º 10’ 00”

7 114º 32’ 00” 11º 10’ 00”

8 114º 32’ 00” 11º 56’ 00”

9 118º 00’ 00” 11º 56’ 00”

* * *

Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ, (882-AM).

E-mail: jariusbondoc@workmail.com

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?artic...ubCategoryId=64

If this is how rich the Recto Bank is, then we need to protect it all cost. If we need to spend billions of dollars, then let's do so since the benefit is far greater.

In any case, it is indisputably a part of the Philippine territory.

Let us utilize the oil and gas reserves to help propel our economy.

No to joint exploration with any country, in the Recto Bank.

It is ours.

THE RECTO BANK IS INDISPUTABLY OURS BY LAW AND NATURE.

An attempt to give in to the joint utilization is a slap on our faces as a sovereign nation.


And how evil china is to try to even trespass on our 200 EEZ.

IT ALSO PUTS ACROSS AN UNDERSTANDING NOW THAT THE WHOLE OF SPRATLEY'S IS USELESS WITHOUT THE RECTO BANK. China could have safely planted their oil rig at the edge of Spratleys cluster and far from Recto Bank.

God Almighty is wise. He puts the oil reserve within the area clearly deep within our territory. :thumb:

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" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution "


" People don't care what we know until they know we care. "


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Come to think of it, our nation is so blessed compared to china.

China is nothing but a wide expanse of dirt. :lollol:

While the Philippines is so rich. Fisheries, agriculture, skilled labor force, and even oil. :patrioticpinoy:

God bless the Philippines.
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" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution "


" People don't care what we know until they know we care. "


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an informative discussion on the KIG.

[dohtml]<iframe src="http://www.gmanews.tv/evideo/81778/ntg-panayam-kay-dr-aileen-baviera-kaugnay-sa-alitang-china-pilipinas-sa-spratly-islands" frameborder="0" style="width:480px; height:400px; display:block; background: black;" scrolling="no">This page requires a higher version browser</iframe><br /><a href="http://www.gmanews.tv/">For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV</a>[/dohtml]

It is indeed vital that we improve our defense capabilities and enhance our military presence in the KIG.

For the US, it is vital that it improves its presence as well.

China cannot be relied upon as a regional protector because aside from trying to rule the Pacific and not just the seas in this region, its greed and disrespect towards its neighbor will ignite more conflicts in the region.

Best is for the US to keep the regional police status in this region to protect the navigational lanes and help control china's bullying and greed.

Also, we need to improve our defense capabilities and presence in the KIG to complement the US efforts.
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" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution "


" People don't care what we know until they know we care. "


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Palace exec may visit Reed Bank ‘in due time’
07/26/2011 | 07:39 PM

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday said he might visit the disputed Reed Bank “in due time."

“Not yet. Come to think of it, why not? In due time, perhaps," Ochoa said when asked if he has plans on visiting Reed Bank (also known as Recto Bank) soon.

Ochoa also heads the Cabinet cluster on security, peace and justice, and the Anti-Terrorism Council.

Pressed further if he would visit Reed Bank or the Spratly Islands, he said: “Well, maybe both."

China last week protested the visit by four lawmakers to Pag-asa Island, claiming that it might “sabotage" relations between China and the Philippines.

The Philippine government said the lawmakers had the right to visit the island as it is well within the country’s territory.

The Philippines had earlier accused China, a claimant in the Spratlys dispute, of intrusion into its territories. It cited several incidents earlier this year as reported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Ochoa said President Benigno Aquino III mentioned the Reed Bank in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday in order to assert Philippine sovereignty in the island.

“We need to show that no matter what, we will assert our sovereignty when the situation calls for it," he said.

Ochoa said the Philippines’ acquisition of a Hamilton-class cutter, which will be stationed near Palawan province, is not a sign that the country is gearing up for war.

“It is there to patrol our territorial seas. The BRP Humabon is a World War II boat. That’s the only boat we have in the Navy that is capable of going to the high seas. We really need this type of boat, not against anybody, but for this country," he said. — KBK, GMA News

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/227493/nation/...ank-in-due-time

This must not be delayed. It is our duty to assert our sovereignty in the Kalayaan Islands.

China has no right to tell who visits the islands. :nono:

It is well within our 200 EEZ.

We control it and we have an incontestable sovereignty over the Kalayaan. :salute:
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Lawmakers support PNoy's SONA on Spratley's

[dohtml]<iframe src="http://www.gmanews.tv/evideo/85647/db-tapang-ni-pnoy-sa-usapin-ng-spratlys-kinampihan-ng-mga-kongresista" frameborder="0" style="width:480px; height:400px; display:block; background: black;" scrolling="no">This page requires a higher version browser</iframe><br /><a href="http://www.gmanews.tv/">For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV</a>[/dohtml]
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Support the Kalayaan Islands Facebook page as well.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kalayaan-Tow...118749804880150 :thumb:
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" People don't care what we know until they know we care. "


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Quote:
 
1.1.2. A Joint Maritime Force (Sea-Air) is being restructured to carry out missions in the West Philippines Sea to protect vital resources and sea exploration activities. At the same time, initiatives are being made to revive the Air Defense Organization focused on the airspace of priority areas in western Philippines.
1.1.3. On 05 April 2011, the Government acquired the US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Hamilton. The acquisition is part of the efforts of the DND and AFP to develop the Philippines’ naval, air, and ground interdiction assets in order to assure the territorial integrity and protection of Philippine waters and resources, particularly in light of energy exploration efforts in Sulu and Palawan. Also, the Philippine Navy has completed Coast Watch Stations in Taganak and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

http://www.gov.ph/2011/07/25/the-2011-stat...chnical-report/

So, we are so lucky we also have the oil-rich Sulu Sea. :thumb:
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http://malampaya.com/?page_id=2

Quote:
 
OVERVIEW OF MALAMPAYA

The Malampaya Project: The Big Picture

The discovery of an alternative and indigenous source of energy was a milestone event for the Philippines, a country that has historically relied on imported fuel for the bulk of its domestic and industrial power requirements.

The Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project is one of the largest and most significant industrial endeavors in Philippine history. A joint undertaking of the Philippine national government and the private sector, the project is spearheaded by the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) developed and operated by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) on behalf of joint venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and the PNOC Exploration Corporation.

A STORY OF POWER

The Malampaya story is a story of resilience, perseverance, and innovation spanning over a decade. In 1989, a small gas reservoir called Camago was discovered in the area of service contract 38 (SC 38). In 1990, upon acquisition of a 50% participating interest in SC38, SPEX joined the search for natural gas reserves. Two years later, the Malampaya gas field was discovered, and was later found to be connected to the Camago structure.

SPEX drilled five wells to determine the amount of gas available in Malampaya. The findings confirmed the presence of a formidable power source 80 kilometers northwest of Palawan island–about 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves and 85 million barrels of condensate, located some 3,000 meters below sea level. In 1995, after comprehensive studies, it was concluded that Malampaya presented an extraordinary opportunity for commercial gas development in the Philippines.
The development of Malampaya posed a myriad of daunting logistical, social, environmental, and financial challenges. It required the active participation and involvement of government agencies, communities, and both Filipino and multinational companies. The DOE played a key role in making Malampaya a reality.

In 1998, former President Fidel V. Ramos signed the declaration of commerciality of the venture. Three-and-a-half years later, in October 2001, the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project was inaugurated in a special ceremony at the onshore gas plant in Batangas.

The Philippines is indeed very very rich and we should thank God Almighty for this.

We also should thank our government and our Filipino businessmen led by Manny Pangilinan of Philex Mining who is leading the oil exploration of the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese-occupied Paracels is literally useless because it doesn't have any oil deposits beneath it.

Even the whole of Spratley's is not as lucky.

Only the area where it is occupied by the Philippine forces has been tested to hold vast reserves of oil and natural gas.

The Recto Bank (Reed Bank), which is believed to be holding 3.4 trillion cubic feet of gas, atop 440 million barrels of oil, is just adjacent to the Camago area where the Malampaya project sits. The Malampaya project is now fully operational and are fueling 3 Combined Cycle Plants (power generation) that are generating a total capacity of 2,700 watts serving the Luzon grid.

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More here:

http://malampaya.com/?page_id=5

If you will analyze this map below, it suggests the idea why the Chinese was so eager to creep into this part. This is only area where the oil reserves sits. The rest of the Spratley's is basically useless in terms of oil reserves.

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The green dot off the northwestern coast of Palawan is the Malampaya field. The Reed Bank is located 100 miles southwest of it.

Aside from the Palawan reserves, the Sulu Seas. :thumb:

The Sulu Sea is situated East of Palawan.

Quote:
 
$ 7.5 Billion Dollars for Oil and Gas Exploration in the Philippines - A1- A15 - DoE

The government is eyeing up to $7.5 billion in investments from the 15 new oil and gas exploration areas to be offered in the fourth Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR 4).

During the PECR 4 launch yesterday, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said they expect an investment of about $500 million for each of the service contracts (SC) to be auctioned off in the contracting round.

The PECR 4 comprises of three onshore and 12 offshore blocks with a total area of more than 10 million hectares located in Northwest Palawan, East Palawan, and Sulu Sea basins. This year’s contracting round will be the biggest yet offered by the Philippines.

Included in the areas offered under the PECR 4 are four cancelled SCs of one oil exploration firm in Sulu Sea.

Almendras said they expect to award the SCs by early next year after allowing the prospective investors about five months to conduct their respective due diligence studies.

Among those that attended the launching of PECR 4 are: Petro Energy Resources Corp.; PNOC-Exploration Corp.; Pitkin Petroleum; Philodrill Corp.; BGP Inc.; Polyard Petroleum Int’l. Co. Ltd.; Shell Philippines Exploration BV; Star Energy; Supply Oilfield Services Inc.; Tap Oil. Ltd; Venturoil Phil. Inc.; Palawan Sulu Sea Gas Inc.; Galoc Production Inc.; Gibeon Integration Systems Pte Ltd.; Great Treasures Alliances Int’l.; Logistics Marketing Phils. Inc.; Nido Petroleum Ltd.; Norasian Energy Ltd.; Oriental Petroleum & Minerals Corp.; Chevron Malampaya Phils. LLC; China Union Global Holdings Ltd.; Forum Energy PLC; Basic Energy and One Asia Oil & Gas Corp.

According to Almendras, the contracting round is expected to attract investments in oil and gas exploration activities which will contribute to the realization of the country’s energy self-sufficiency level target of 60 percent by 2011.

So far, only 10 percent of the potential oil and gas reserves of the country has been tapped.

The PECR 4 is envisioned to address the country’s energy supply through the exploration of local indigenous resources. Harnessing local resources will help the country meet its daily demand and reduce the importation of petroleum and petroleum products.

Independent and large-scale international exploration companies that have attended previous roadshows in Singapore and Australia have also expressed interest to bid in the various blocks for offer.

Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug said the Department of Petroleum and Energy of Papua New Guinea has also expressed support to PECR 4 and will encourage investors to consider the Philippines for exploration.

Almendras said they are overwhelmed by the response of potential investors in PECR 4.

Earlier, Layug said most of the investors are eyeing areas near Northwest Palawan,specifically Areas 3,4,5 where the presence of oil and gas have already been proven. The $4.5-billion Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project is located in NW Palawan.

http://betterphils.blogspot.com/2011/06/75...il-and-gas.html


GOD ALMIGHTY HAS BLESSED THE PHILIPPINES...

for we are VERY RICH!
:patrioticpinoy:
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" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution "


" People don't care what we know until they know we care. "


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Samir_Duran
THE GHOST
[ *  *  * ]
Alright, let's go and mine some oil! :banana:
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lyzel_khan26
"unfabulous..."
[ *  *  * ]
,huh?why?
Philippines rich in oil but very expensive pagdating sa mga tindahan?
" A woman with a voice by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. It's complicated by the fact that in most nations women receive substantially less education than man." by: Melinda Gates
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