Senator Pia Cayetano pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2793, or the proposed Philippine Natural Gas Development Act, as a means to support the development of the country’s natural gas industry.
“This bill covers all aspects of the natural gas industry, including, transportation, transmission, and storage, among others. This ensures adherence of the natural gas operations to both the international and local best practices,” said Cayetano in a statement.
Cayetano added that the bill is designed to secure the nation’s energy future by focusing on the development of the natural gas sector, including reviving domestic gas exploration and expanding Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure. The bill ensures that locally sourced gas is given precedence over imported LNG and other traditional fuels in energy production.
Natural gas, the senator said, would aid in easing the country’s dependence on imported coal and oil.
Considering that Malampaya may already be on its last leg in producing gas fields and may become depleted as early as 2027, this would hamper the Department of Energy’s (DOE) long-term energy plan.
The senator mentioned how Malampaya has been a pillar in the country’s energy security, considering that it has powered 20% of Luzon for more than 20 years.
“To support the DOE’s long-term energy plan, the country needs more Malampayas: we barely have one left,” said Cayetano.
