Phl, China to resume talks on rare element exploration

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and China are set to resume the joint exploration of rare earth elements here.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) director Leo Jasareno told reporters that earlier this month, a representative from the bureau went to China to meet with counterparts and discuss the joint exploration of rare earths.

He said that based on the meeting, Chinese government-owned entity China Geological Survey has agreed to resume talks on the matter.

“They will be formalizing their request to resume through a letter,” he said.

The government is planning to allocate a budget for the exploration work.

Jasareno said the MGB has been undertaking research to prepare for the exploration work.

He also said they are looking at Nueva Vizcaya and Palawan as areas which may have rare earths.

Preparations for the joint exploration work on the search of rare earth elements here were supposed to be made last year.

The plan, however, did not push through amid tensions between the two countries over Panatag shoal.

 The stand-off in Panatag shoal between the two countries started in April last year after the arrests of Chinese fishermen caught poaching off the shoal by Philippine authorities were prevented by surveillance ships of China.

Rare earths are a group of 17 elements composed of scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides.

The rare earths are considered strategic resources because these are used in components of cars, computers and other electronic devices.

Jasareno has said the Philippines could potentially have some rare earth elements since these are usually found close to porphyry copper deposits.