Locsin confirms PH will soon have new marine survey ships

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. speaks at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday, June 17, 2019. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will have new marine survey ships, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. disclosed on Saturday.

“Read Bulletin. @JayBatongbacal let’s not give ourselves credit. I wouldn’t have promised permission if I hadn’t cleared it with national security. But only Filipino boats. Sen Loren gave budget for new marine survey boats. UP won’t need to bunk with smelly aliens,” Foreign Affairs Chief said in a tweet.

Read Bulletin. @JayBatongbacal let's not give ourselves credit. I wouldn't have promised permission if I hadn't cleared it with national security. But only Filipino boats. Sen Loren gave budget for new marine survey boats. UP won't need to bunk with smelly aliens. https://t.co/Tu87zemRmT

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 17, 2019

Locsin was referring to Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, which led the discussion of the 2019 national budget, which included an allotment for the new ships.

Previously, Locsin had a Twitter exchange with maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, about allowing foreign experts to accompany Filipino scientists on marine surveys.

In that exchange, he said he would grant allow only Philippine ships to conduct marine surveys in the country’s waters.

“So now tell me who do we give to or withhold from authority to survey? flag of the boat or nationality of the surveying group leasing it? Need to inform everyone. For now only Filipino-flagged ships allowed. We need clear rules,” Locsin said in a previous tweet.

READ: Locsin: For now, only PH-flagged ships can conduct marine survey in EEZ

Locsin said in an old tweet that he would “universalize” the ban on marine survey ships in the list of countries whose survey vessels would be prohibited entering Philippine waters.

READ: Locsin ‘will universalize ban’ on survey ships ‘by adding China’

/atm