The Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI) is calling for an acceleration of private sector-led oil and gas exploration in the country as a strategic response to ongoing Middle East tensions, warning that short-term measures may not be enough to shield the Philippines from supply disruptions.

Atty. Jose M. Layug, Jr., Executive Board member of PERPI, said immediate government interventions, such as the four-day work week in public offices, would only mitigate the impact temporarily. 

“The private sector oil supply buffer is only good for the next 15 to 60 days,” he said in an interview on the Front and Center radio program on Radyo Pilipinas last Friday.

Layug welcomed the recent discovery of a major natural gas reservoir at Malampaya East 1 (MAE-1), located about five kilometers east of the existing Malampaya field. The field is estimated to hold roughly 98 billion cubic feet of gas, with initial tests showing a flow rate of 60 million cubic feet per day. “We are happy that Prime [Energy] found more gas reserves in Malampaya,” he said.

The PERPI official also highlighted ongoing Department of Energy negotiations with oil-producing countries to secure supplies after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for Middle East oil. Layug also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and green mobility programs.

“There are other ways to address the gap in oil shortage such as shift to electric vehicles, car pooling, expansion of coding in major highways, and reduce travels for government offices,” he said, noting that incentives for household solar installations and free EV charging at commercial malls could accelerate the shift away from imported oil.

How should the Philippines balance domestic oil exploration with renewable energy goals? Share your thoughts on this development.

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