PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the ceremonial first flow of natural gas from two newly developed wells of the Malampaya gas field during a ceremony at the Malampaya Onshore Gas Plant in Tabangao, Batangas, on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
The event marked a major milestone in the implementation of the Malampaya Phase 4 (MP4) Project, with the completion of its First Gas stage aimed at boosting the country’s domestic natural gas supply and extending the operational life of the Malampaya gas field.
The initial gas production comes from the Malampaya East-1 and Camago-3 wells, which have been successfully connected to the existing Malampaya gas production system.
According to project estimates, the two wells hold a combined gas reserve of 222 billion cubic feet. Both wells were drilled and successfully tested in the first quarter of 2026.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said the additional reserves could generate around 31.46 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to the annual power consumption of approximately 13.11 million households.
The new gas supply is also expected to extend the productive life of the Malampaya gas field until 2034, pushing back its previously projected depletion date of 2027.
During the ceremony, Marcos emphasized the importance of maximizing the country’s indigenous energy resources to lessen reliance on imported fuel and protect the Philippines from uncertainties and price fluctuations in the global energy market.
Despite the additional gas supply, the development is not expected to automatically result in lower electricity rates, as power costs remain influenced by fuel prices, generation expenses and power plant operations.
Meanwhile, the government and project stakeholders are continuing preparations for the development of Bagong Pag-asa-1, the third well under the Malampaya Phase 4 Project.
The latest milestone is part of efforts to strengthen the country’s energy security and ensure a more reliable domestic energy supply.
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