The DOE is currently evaluating applications of Ratio Petroleum Limited, which submitted an offer for Area 3 (East Palawan Basin);
Sulu Sea Energy Resources Development Corp.
All-Filipino firm
Sulu Sea Energy Resources Development Corp.
For the 14 pre-determined blocks, only four areas were able to corner offers; while the three nominated areas in
Sulu Sea, Northwest Palawan and Ragay Gulf all attracted prospective firm-takers.
for Area 6 in
Sulu Sea, a joint application from Philodrill Corp.
Tausug, from words Tau ("person") and sug ("current"), refer to the people living along
Sulu Sea whose livelihood depends on the direction of the currents.
When asked about his meeting with Ryamizard, Mohamad said they discussed efforts to further strengthen the defence relations of both countries, such as to enhance security in the border especially in Kalimantan and
Sulu Sea which involved the Philippines.
Lorenzana said the challenges "range from territorial disputes with China and other South-East Asian nations over the ownership of resource-rich islands in the West Philippines Sea, to piracy, movement of armed insurgent in the (southern)
Sulu Sea, and other transnational crimes." With the TC-90 planes' patrol range double that of existing aircraft of the Philippines, which only have a maximum range of 300 kilometres, Lorenzana said that "the maritime air surveillance and intelligence surveillance reconnaissance capability of the Philippine navy will also be enhanced."
In June 2017, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines held joint maritime patrols to fight pirate attacks and transnational crimes in the
Sulu Sea.
A local weather bureau said that the storm had gathered strength over the
Sulu Sea.
Indonesia is concerned that piracy in the
Sulu Sea area, a major sea traffic corridor for the world's top thermal coal exporter, could reach levels previously seen in Somalia.