Civil society group Atin Ito convened a public forum at the University of the Philippines Cebu on April 16, where economists and officials argued that untapped resources in the West Philippine Sea (a Philippine-designated term for the eastern portion of the South China Sea within the country's exclusive economic zone) could shield the nation from its current energy emergency, triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Economist and former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno cited government data estimating the area holds over 6 billion barrels of oil and roughly 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas — equivalent to four times the output capacity of the Malampaya gas field, which currently supplies up to 40% of Luzon's energy needs — and warned that the Philippines' near-total dependence on Middle East oil imports leaves it acutely vulnerable to global shocks. The forum also touched on the geopolitical dimension, with Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela reaffirming Manila's exclusive rights over the area even as the Marcos administration has signalled openness to joint exploration talks with China, provided any agreement complies with Philippine law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.