Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA)

Dear FOI staff, 

I am a news producer for GMA News Online, requesting a copy of the following: 

1. The request of the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO-CAS) to conduct a survey of the eastern seaboard of the Philippines. 

2. The document from the Department of Foreign Affairs approving the request 

Thank you very much. 

Sincerely, 
Nicole-Anne Lagrimas 
Junior News Producer 
GMA News Online
[Text Redacted]

January 30, 2018

Dear Nicole-Anne,

Thank you for your request dated Jan 26, 2018 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Request of Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences to explore PH eastern seaboard.

We received your request on Jan 26, 2018 and will respond on or before Feb 16, 2018 04:31:11 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERGQS01NTkyNjYzNjY0NjkM, for request with ticket number #DFA-559266366469.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

Dear Ms. Lagrimas,

This has reference to your FOI Request for copies of the following:

1)	the application for consent filed by the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO-CAS) to conduct Marine Scientific Research (MSR) in the Benham Rise (now, Philippine Rise); and

2)	the decision by the inter-agency MSR-Technical Working Group (TWG), chaired by the DFA, to grant consent to said application.

The DFA appreciates your interest in the information subject of this request. 

The documents that you are asking for, however, are integral to Notes Verbale exchanged between the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Accordingly, a Note Verbale from the Chinese Embassy transmitted the application to the DFA and the DFA, in turn, communicated to the Chinese Embassy the grant of consent also by way of a Note Verbale.

The need to keep diplomatic communications inviolable is recognized in international law as well as in the Inventory of Exceptions to Executive Order No. 2, the order which operationalized the right to information. DFA, therefore, is constrained by law from issuing copies of the subject documents to the public.

Very truly yours, 

Enrique A. Manalo
Undersecretary