THE Philippine government will fast-track discussions on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the possible completion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) during the its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. What the government will refrain from doing during its ASEAN chairmanship is raising the July 2016 award issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said in a news briefing. According to Yasay, discussions on the DOC are ongoing on the ministerial level which is precisely why the Philippines is hopeful the regional grouping will be able to come up with a COC by mid-2017.