Philippines Awards Eight New Oil Exploration Contracts to Strengthen Energy Security
04 Dec 2025
As the country looks for long-term energy security amid declining supply from the Malampaya field, the Philippine government has awarded eight new Petroleum Service Contracts (PSCs), the largest batch issued in a single period, to accelerate domestic oil and gas exploration. At a ceremony in Malacañang on October 8, 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr formally announced the contracts.The contracts represent a total investment commitment of $207 million over a seven-year exploration cycle and cover exploration areas in the Sulu Sea, Cagayan Basin, Cebu, Northwest Palawan, East Palawan, and Central Luzon."These service contracts reflect our continued efforts to attain greater energy security, economic stability, and national self-reliance," Marcos stated, stressing the significance of community involvement and responsible development.The Greatest Honour in Philippine Upstream HistoryUnder the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Programme (PCECP), the Department of Energy (DOE) verified that all PSCs were chosen through an open and competitive process, guaranteeing that winning proponents complied with legal, technical, and financial requirements.Principal Contract Honours Southern Sulu Sea, PSC 80 and PSC 81given to a group that included The Philodrill Corp., Sunda Energy Plc, PXP Energy Corp., and Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd.Total coverage: about 1.3 million hectaresThese PSCs, which are co-managed with BARMM-MENRE, represent a resurgence of research in the communities of Mindanao and BARMM PSC 82 in the Cagayan BasinThe recipient is Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd.Coverage: 480,000 ha PSC 83 and PSC 84 (Native Hydrogen, Central Luzon)awarded to Koloma Inc., a U.S. company.Coverage: 85,082 and 126,645 hectaresAn innovative step towards zero-carbon energy sources, these are the first native hydrogen exploration contracts in history to be awarded through competitive bidding Onshore Cebu, PSC 85given to the Gas 2 Grid Pte. Ltd. Area: 127,475 ha PSC 86 (northwest Palawan basin)Awarded to a Filipino consortium of The Philodrill Corp, Anglo Philippine Holdings, PXP Energy, and Forum EnergyThe area is 132,000 ha.Despite the block's proximity to the West Philippine Sea, the DOE stated that it does not expect Chinese interference PSC-87 (East Palawan Basin)Ratio Petroleum Ltd. of Israel has been awarded a second PSC in the area Supporting the Philippines' Energy TransitionThe contracts are made at a time when 40% of Luzon's electricity comes from the Malampaya Gas Field, which is about to run out. Malampaya is predicted to run dry by 2027, so new exploration is essential to maintaining stability in the future.According to the DOE, service contractors can now start identifying drillable sites, conducting aeromagnetic studies, and conducting seismic surveys. During early exploration, companies must support community programmes, capacity building, and scholarships in addition to technical work.With the goal of delivering "first gas" by late 2026, the government is hopeful that these awards will result in new gas discoveries, particularly in the Malampaya expansion blocksA Crossroads for the Upstream SectorFollowing regulatory changes and recent legal clarification regarding Malampaya, investor confidence in the Philippines' upstream energy sector has been restored with the issuance of these eight PSCs.Marcos asked contractors to use caution"Let us demonstrate that responsible business practices and national development can coexist - growth based on accountability and transparency is growth that endures."The contracts are anticipated to create new jobs, encourage investments in frontier basins, and advance the Philippines' long-term objective of attaining energy security through diversified domestic production now that exploration operations are under way.Latest Government Tenders and Contract Awards in Philipppines - PhilipppinesTendersPhilippinesTenders - Your trusted source for the latest government tenders, RFPs, RFQs, and contract awards in the Philippines. Stay updated with the latest public procurement opportunities and tender notices in philippines at PhilippinesTenders Find all philippines government tenders, eProcurement updates, and contract award notices on PhilippinesTendersExplore live tenders, bids, and procurement opportunities in the Philippines with PhilippinesTenders - the PhilippinesTenders portalPhilippinesTenders brings you verified tenders, procurement news, and contract awards from the Philippines #ContractAward #ProcurementNews #OilExploration #PhilippinesEnergy #PetroleumServiceContract #PCECP #PhilippineDOE #EnergySecurity #Malampaya #OilAndGasPhilippines #HydrogenEnergy #UpstreamEnergy #SuluSea #PalawanBasin #CagayanBasin #CentralLuzon #BARMM #EnergyTransition #AwardedTenders
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Pentagon Awards Contract to Upgrade Philippine Naval Base Near the South China Sea
04 Dec 2025
The Pentagon has awarded a new contract to modernise the Philippine Navy's key operating base near the South China Sea, bolstering Manila's ability to maintain patrol craft and unmanned vessels as tensions with China rise.Ace Builders, Inc., a New Mexico-based contractor, won the $975,000 design-build contract to build a small boat maintenance facility at Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Western Palawan, a strategic hub for Philippine maritime operations. The project, which was unveiled last week, is a component of the US military's continuous efforts to strengthen the Philippines' ability to defend itself at sea.Modernising a Strategic Frontline BaseWith the Philippines stepping up patrols around disputed areas, Naval Detachment Oyster Bay has become more and more important. The base frequently uses Philippine Marine Corps fast boats and American-supplied Cyclone-class patrol boats to keep an eye on Chinese coast guard, militia, and naval activity throughout the disputed waters.Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) will also be supported by the new facility, according to recent Pentagon documents, increasing the Philippine Navy's capacity to carry out continuous maritime surveillance. As part of a cooperative effort to increase maritime domain awareness, the United States previously sent five unmanned Maritime Tactical Systems vessels to Manila and trained Philippine drone operators in Palawan.Context: The South China Sea's Increasing TensionsThe award coincides with a dramatic increase in maritime conflicts. The high-risk environment in which small boats and USVs operate was highlighted by clashes around Second Thomas Shoal, including a serious collision that injured a Philippine Navy SEAL on June 17, 2024. The Western Palawan base, which is currently scheduled for renovations, provided the vessels used in those missions.A component of a larger defence build-up between the United States and the PhilippinesThe Oyster Bay project is one of many military construction projects in Western Palawan that are funded by the United States. Manila's small-boat operational range is extended closer to hotspots like Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal by additional contracts, such as a new barracks and maintenance facility in Quezon municipality.These expenditures are a part of Washington's increased defence assistance in response to increased Chinese aggression in 2023 and 2024. In addition to facilitating greater interoperability between Philippine and American forces, the upgraded infrastructure is intended to increase Philippine maritime resilience.Gazing Straight AheadThe upgraded maintenance facility is expected to significantly improve the sustainment, readiness, and deployment rates of Philippine small boats and unmanned systems. In Western Palawan, which is currently a frontline region in the larger Indo-Pacific strategic landscape, both governments are likely to expand cooperative maritime security initiatives and deepen joint training as construction progresses.Latest Government Tenders and Contract Awards in Philipppines - PhilipppinesTendersPhilippinesTenders - Your trusted source for the latest government tenders, RFPs, RFQs, and contract awards in the Philippines. Stay updated with the latest public procurement opportunities and tender notices in philippines at PhilippinesTenders Find all philippines government tenders, eProcurement updates, and contract award notices on PhilippinesTendersExplore live tenders, bids, and procurement opportunities in the Philippines with PhilippinesTenders - the PhilippinesTenders portalPhilippinesTenders brings you verified tenders, procurement news, and contract awards from the Philippines #ContractAward #Pentagon #Philippines #SouthChinaSea #ProcurementNews #DefenseContracts #PhilippineNavy #USPhilippinesDefense #MilitaryInfrastructure #OysterBay #WesternPalawan #MaritimeSecurity #UnmannedSurfaceVessels #USIndoPacificStrategy #AwardedTendersv
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Philippines Announces Eight New Petroleum Service Contracts Across Multiple Basins: A Major Push Toward Energy Security
01 Dec 2025
With the announcement of eight new Petroleum Service Contracts (PSCs), the largest single-period allocation in the country's history, the Philippines has made significant progress towards bolstering its long-term energy security. The contracts represent a major expansion of the nation's upstream exploration efforts and cover several strategic basins, including Cagayan, Cebu, Central Luzon, East Palawan, Northwest Palawan, and the Sulu Sea.The awards also include the nation's first competitive tender for domestic hydrogen, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Energy (DoE), indicating a move towards the exploration of next-generation clean fuels. In order to improve regional cooperation and investment, a number of PSCs will also be co-managed with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).A Strategic Drive to Increase Energy Independence and Replace MalampayaThe Philippines is rushing to find new natural gas sources because the Malampaya gas field is in decline. Over the course of a seven-year exploration period, the eight PSCs have the potential to invest $65.7 million (₱3.83 billion) in seismic surveys, geological studies, drilling programmes, and emerging hydrogen exploration technologies.The initiative's significance was underlined by Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin, who said: "These service agreements demonstrate our commitment to securing new energy sources as well as our willingness to embrace innovation and sustainability while lowering reliance on imports."Key Contract Awards: Who Won the Big PSCs?After a competitive assessment of legal, technical, and financial capabilities, the PSCs were granted under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Programme (PCECP).PSC 80 & PSC 81 in the Southern Sulu Seagiven to an alliance of: Australia-based Triangle Energy (Global) UK's Sunda Energy PXP Philippines Energy The Philippine Philodrill Covering: PSC 80: about 760,000 ha 532,000 ha in PSC 81DoE and BARMM-MENRE are co-managers PSC 82: Cagayan BasinTriangle Energy (Global) received this awardAbout 480,000 hectaresPSC 83 & PSC 84 (Native Hydrogen) in Central LuzonGiven to: Koloma, USA 83 PSC: 126,645 ha 85,082 ha in PSC 84 These PSCs are the nation's first contracts for hydrogen explorationCebu Onshore: PSC 85Presented to: Gas 2 GridArea covered: 127,475 haPSC 86, Northwest Palawan BasinGiven to a Filipino group: Philippine Anglo Holdings A Philodrill Energy PXP Forum for Energy Philippines132,000 hectares PSC 87: East Palawan BasinRatio Petroleum (Israel) is the recipient.After finishing a 3D seismic survey for PSC 76 in 2024, this is Ratio's second PSC in the nation.Work Programme: Drilling Potential, G&G Research, and Seismic SurveysContractors will start comprehensive work programmes under the new PSCs, such as: Geophysical and geological (G&G) research Seismic and aeromagnetic surveys in two and three dimensions Finding prospects that are drillable Evaluation of natural hydrogen sources Safety and environmental compliance procedures According to the DoE, after formal implementation, exploration activities could start right away.A Pivotal Moment for Philippine Energy ResearchThe historic allocation marks the beginning of a new era for the Philippines' upstream industry, which is shifting away from conventional petroleum and towards new energy sources. The nation is depending on these PSCs to open new onshore and offshore reserves in response to growing import costs and declining domestic output. The action, as Energy Secretary Garin pointed out, is both innovative and urgent, putting the Philippines in a better position to secure its energy future and drawing international investors to one of Southeast Asia's most promising exploration frontiers.Latest Government Tenders and Contract Awards in Philipppines - PhilipppinesTendersPhilippinesTenders - Your trusted source for the latest government tenders, RFPs, RFQs, and contract awards in the Philippines Stay updated with the latest public procurement opportunities and tender notices in philippines at PhilippinesTenders Find all philippines government tenders, eProcurement updates, and contract award notices on PhilippinesTendersExplore live tenders, bids, and procurement opportunities in the Philippines with PhilippinesTenders - the PhilippinesTenders portalPhilippinesTenders brings you verified tenders, procurement news, and contract awards from the Philippines #PhilippinesEnergy #PetroleumServiceContracts #OilAndGasPhilippines #EnergySecurityPH #PhilippineDOE #ContractAward #UpstreamExploration #PhilippinesTenders #OilAndGasAsia #PhilippinesEconomy #EnergyDevelopment #OffshoreExploration #CagayanBasin #PalawanBasin #SuluSeaBasin #HydrocarbonExploration #EnergyNews #GovernmentContracts #OilAndGasIndustry #AsianEnergyMarket #PhilippinesInvestment #EnergySectorUpdates
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