Marcos leads Malampaya Phase 4 ceremonial first gas flow

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial activation of the first gas flow from the Malampaya Phase 4 project at the Malampaya Onshore Gas Plant in Tabangao Ambulong, Batangas City on Thursday.

The project adds an estimated 222 billion cubic feet of natural gas reserves to the country’s indigenous supply following the successful drilling and testing of the Malampaya East-1 and Camago-3 wells in the first quarter of 2026.

In his speech, Marcos said the development would help strengthen the country’s energy security as it continues to rely heavily on imported energy sources.

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“We cannot fully rely on other countries to provide these resources all of the time. Last year, more than half of our energy supply came from abroad. Thus, our energy sector is very susceptible to geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions, and price fluctuations,” he said.

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Marcos said maximizing the use of Malampaya gas could also help lower electricity rates by reducing dependence on imported energy sources whose prices fluctuate with the international market.

“Anong ibig sabihin nito para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino? Sariling gas, mas maaasahang kuryente, mas matatag na enerhiya para sa ating bansa,” he added.

(What does this mean to every Filipino family? Our own gas, more reliable electricity, and more stable energy for our country.)

Marcos said the country’s growing economy and industrialization would also drive higher energy demand, making the development of local energy resources important.

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“As our economy grows, so does our demand for energy. Industrialization and energy grow hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other,” he said.

The Malampaya East-1 and Camago-3 wells were connected to the existing Malampaya subsea production system in June, allowing natural gas from offshore Palawan to flow through the Malampaya gas transmission infrastructure to Batangas and eventually supply gas-fired power plants serving the Luzon grid.

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Prime Energy said the additional reserves could generate approximately 31.46 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power 13.11 million Filipino households for one year.

The company also said the project involved an investment of close to $1 billion and was completed about five months ahead of schedule.

Marcos said the project demonstrated the country’s capacity to develop its own energy resources through cooperation between the government and private sector.

He also cited the government’s efforts to encourage further exploration of domestic energy resources, saying his administration had awarded 14 new petroleum service contracts covering oil, natural gas and native hydrogen exploration.

The Department of Energy has also granted special allowances to service contractors working in new exploration areas and developing gas in remote locations.

The government is likewise implementing the Philippine Gradiometry and Seismic Survey Project to identify potential exploration sites.

Marcos also cited the Philippine Natural Gas Industry Development Act, which prioritizes procuring and using indigenous natural gas over imported natural gas for gas-fired power plants.

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“Taken together, these measures optimize our resources, encourage responsible investment, and ensure that the benefits of our pursuits serve the national interest,” he said. (Katherine Cielo Guimera/INQUIRER.net trainee)