It is better for the privately-owned oil companies and local government units to directly negotiate for oil supply than rely on the national government. Let us face the hard facts. The Marcos appeal to China is like drawing blood from turnips. Marcos and his bellicose ilks had been demonizing China from day one and had cuddled close to Uncle Sam who started the middle east conflict that brought staggering impact worldwide, the Philippines included.
If we go by BongBong Marcos instinctive political dalliance with US presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump we expected him to seek assistance from Trump for supply of oil. Marcos after all has allowed the US big chunks of our territories for nine EDCA bases. The US actually has one of the biggest stockpiles of oil reserves and sparing one lapdog a few barrels of oil is not difficult to grant.
Surprisingly however Marcos did the unexpected. The noise the his subalterns in Congress and the Armed Forces of the Philippines demanding from China to pull out its diplomatic corps has not subsided yet and there goes our Chief Executive sending a pilgrimage to China to beg for supply of oil.
It does not help that Marcos and AFP had been saber rattling confident that it can win a war in 30 days, at the height of the appeal for supply of oil and the prospect of a joint exploration of oil deposits in the West Philippines Sea, a top gun in the AFP boisterously claimed that China cannot be trusted in negotiations.
When you have a situation where the Philippine Coast Guard and the military taking over the role of foreign affairs Marcos himself can kiss the prospect of oil supply goodbye.
Ergo, my two cents worth of advice. Ramon Ang who owns Petron had successfully made a deal with Russia. Promptly an oil tanker named “Sara Sky Tanker” sailed the seas to deliver the expensive commodity. LGUs, like Davao City, which maintain friendly ties and a healthy direct trade with China may explore the possibilities. Countries with some oil to spare might not want to be identified or hesitate to supply oil to countries under notoriously corrupt incumbent national leadership but may do so with private firms and LGUs. That is why Russia made things visibly obvious. The vessel that carried its oil export to Philippines Petron is called SARA SKY TANKER. Was it a coincidence? I don’t think so.
