House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez urged the Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday, Oct. 19, to allow immediate exploration for natural gas and crude oil in Recto Bank off Palawan, which is within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Rodriguez, a representative of Cagayan De Oro’s 2nd district, said the DOE should lift its order suspending exploration activities in the area.
He asserted this so that its service contractor, Forum Energy, can proceed to do its obligations under its contract.
Forum Energy, a subsidiary of PXP Energy Corp., has a pending project in Recto Bank. Business magnate Manny V. Pangilinan is the chairman of PXP.
Proposed extended seismic survey and drilling at the Recto Bank had been suspended by the Philippine government until such time that the country can strike a “mutually acceptable framework” with the Chinese government on the exploration and development of resources in the disputed territories of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“We understand that Forum Energy is raring to explore Recto Bank for gas and oil. We support the contractor’s plan to go into exploration activities. We call on the DOE to give its go-signal,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
The House leader called on the Energy department and other concerned government agencies such as ghe Department of National Defense (DND) to help the company.
READ: Rodriguez’s advice to Marcos admin on oil search in WPS: ‘Don’t mind the Chinese’
“They are doing it not just for themselves but for the nation and the national interest,” he said.
The Mindanao lawmaker reiterated that Recto Bank reportedly holds natural gas and oil deposits much larger than those in the Malampaya gas project, also in Palawan.
He cited Malampaya supplies a large part of the natural gas fuel required by power plants in Luzon. It is projected to dry up in a few years.
“Recto Bank will be our replacement for Malampaya,” he asserted.
Rodriguez said if Malampaya dries up without gas being extracted from Recto Bank, power plants in Luzon would be forced to use more expensive fuel.
“That will result in an increase in the cost of electricity in Luzon, which will not be good for all of us and the government of President Bongbong Marcos,” he said.