MANILA – The Philippines must assert its claim over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) now more than ever, as it has to begin looking for a substitute to the Malampaya gas field, which supplies 40 percent of Luzon’s energy, and will run out of gas in 10 years.

This is according to Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who lectured on the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute on Friday at “Brewing at AIM: Conversations with Thought Leaders” at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.

“We will have rotating brownouts in Luzon if we don’t develop a replacement area, a substitute area, and that substitute area is really the Reed Bank.”

He said it takes about six years to put the infrastructure in place, and the government has only a 10-year window before the Philippines’ largest operating gas field is spent.

His lecture came just days before President Duterte flies to Beijing on a high-profile visit, with 400 Filipino businessmen in tow, with expectations of getting billions in investments and aid from the giant Asian neighbor that Manila sued before the UN arbitral court three years ago.

The Philippines won a landmark ruling, with the PCA at The Hague dismissing China’s nine-dash-line claim. Duterte, who has repeatedly attacked western allies critical of his anti-drugs war, has been conciliatory toward China, however, and expressed confidence his manner of engagement may yet allow the country to maximize its gains from the UN tribunal ruling.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133340/carpio-with-malampaya-gas-gone-in-10-years-ph-must-assert-eez-control-in-west-ph-sea