New deep-sea drilling near the Malampaya gas field is part of the Marcos administration’s push to boost the country’s energy security and stabilize power supply for the next 10 years.
In a Palace briefing, Energy Secretary Sharin Garin said drillship Noble Viking is currently working on three wells: Camago, Malampaya East, and a promising new site called Bagong Pag-asa.
“Balik lang ako doon sa exploration natin. Nagdi-drill sila today. Within the year, we will know kung mayroon nga o wala, especially the two—Camago and Malampaya East. Ang isa we’re hoping, and I think we are quite optimistic about it—itong Bagong Pag-asa,” she said.
Garin stressed the importance of local energy sources in shielding the country from global fuel price shocks.
“Kahit maggiyera man kung saan-saan na part ng mundo, safe tayo. Mapuproteksiyunan natin kasi atin iyon and the prices we can maintain and the supply we can maintain,” according to her.
If successful, the new wells could begin supplying electricity by late 2026.
Garin noted that the original Malampaya project took over a decade to develop after its contract was signed in 1989, with operations beginning in 2001. Since then, exploration contracts have dropped drastically, from 158 under President Marcos Sr. to just six in the previous administration.
“We should have done the Malampaya extension ten years ago,” the secretary said, crediting President Marcos Jr. for extending the service contract to 2037. “He wants this to secure the future of our next generation,” she added.IMT
