By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Apart from tapping renewable energy, the government continues to champion indigenous resources in its bid to reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports just to keep the nation moving and the grid energized.
This, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. kicked off the operations of the Malampaya Phase 4 Project’s First Gas Milestone in his visit at Malampaya Onshore Gas Plant, Batangas City on Thursday.
He began the visit with a walkthrough of the plant’s facilities, accompanied by personnel from Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., before proceeding to the function room.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. hailed the decades-long operation of the Malampaya gas field that has kept the Luzon grid alive and continues to benefit millions of Filipinos daily.
The recent resumption of offshore drilling operations at the Malampaya East 1 and Camago-3 wells in Q1 2026 led to the successful discovery of an estimated 222 billion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, marking a historic milestone in the country’s energy production sector.
He expounded on the importance of the gas find in relation to the current market situation, “Maximizing the use of Malampaya gas can contribute to more competitive power rates, because we are relying less on imported energy sources that are subject to volatile international energy prices.”
The President, moreover, hailed the combined efforts of the government, the private sector, and Filipino talents, who worked hand-in-hand to break new ground in the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project, which promises to also boost employment and further develop domestic expertise in harnessing local energy resources.
He welcomed the First Gas Milestone as a byproduct of the skill, hard work, and dedication of Filipino engineers, professionals, and workers, who have demonstrated the innate competence and determination that translates into projects of national importance.
The Chief Executive concluded his remarks by sharing the government’s initiatives to further develop the energy sector, which include:
- Awarding of 14 new petroleum service contracts covering oil, natural gas, and native hydrogen exploration
- Issuance of special allowances for service contractors involved in oil exploration and gas development in remote areas
- Implementation of Philippine gravity gradiometry and seismic survey project
- Passage of the Philippine Natural Gas Industry Development Act
(with report from Kenneth Paciente | PTV News)
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