Zubiri: Govt eyes Malampaya extension
CAGAYAN DE ORO: Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday said the government is eyeing the extension in the operation of the Malampaya gas field as its life cycle will end in 2027."According to the people that I talked to, particularly industrialists like International Container Terminal Services Inc. Chairman Enrique "Ricky" Razon Jr., they told me that they are still looking into the possible extension of the lifespan of the Malampaya gas field, so hopefully we will extend it for a few more years. There are reserves for a few more years," Zubiri added.At the same time, Zubiri said that he expects Congress to pass the law for the enabling act for the natural gas downstream energy program by the end of 2023."We are pushing to pass the law for the enabling act for the natural gas downstream energy program. It will be done hopefully by the end of this year, it's a noncontroversial measure. We really need this, especially with the renewed push for alternative sources of energy," Zubiri noted.Zubiri said this will ensure the development of more natural gas sources around the Sulu Sea, West Philippine Sea, Recto Bank and eastern side of the country."We have gas deposits in those areas, so we are trying to make that push for that type of energy source," he said.Zubiri also underscored the need to implement the geohazard mapping law in the country amid the threat of climate change."You know that we experience a lot of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and even typhoons that we really need to be disaster resilient. Gone are those days when Mindanao is spared from strong typhoons," Zubiri noted.He said that every year, Mindanao experiences three to four strong typhoons. "That is why I pushed for the passage of the geohazard mapping law. We need to be disaster-resilient. Our school needs to be built well. We have to have rescue centers built all over the eastern seaboard. We should start building rescue centers that can be utilized during this time of calamities," he said.Zubiri recalled that in Cagayan de Oro City alone, at least 1,000 people died after Typhoon "Sendong" hit the country."It was a nightmare in Northern Mindanao. Geohazard maps are necessary to make sure residents will be removed from these geohazard areas. We should identify the no-build zone, and those living by the rivers, we had to forcibly evacuate them and move them to higher ground," he said.
CAGAYAN DE ORO: Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday said the government is eyeing the extension in the operation of the Malampaya gas field as its life cycle will end in 2027.
"According to the people that I talked to, particularly industrialists like International Container Terminal Services Inc. Chairman Enrique "Ricky" Razon Jr., they told me that they are still looking into the possible extension of the lifespan of the Malampaya gas field, so hopefully we will extend it for a few more years. There are reserves for a few more years," Zubiri added.
At the same time, Zubiri said that he expects Congress to pass the law for the enabling act for the natural gas downstream energy program by the end of 2023.
"We are pushing to pass the law for the enabling act for the natural gas downstream energy program. It will be done hopefully by the end of this year, it's a noncontroversial measure. We really need this, especially with the renewed push for alternative sources of energy," Zubiri noted.
Zubiri said this will ensure the development of more natural gas sources around the Sulu Sea, West Philippine Sea, Recto Bank and eastern side of the country.
"We have gas deposits in those areas, so we are trying to make that push for that type of energy source," he said.
Zubiri also underscored the need to implement the geohazard mapping law in the country amid the threat of climate change.
"You know that we experience a lot of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and even typhoons that we really need to be disaster resilient. Gone are those days when Mindanao is spared from strong typhoons," Zubiri noted.
He said that every year, Mindanao experiences three to four strong typhoons.
"That is why I pushed for the passage of the geohazard mapping law. We need to be disaster-resilient. Our school needs to be built well. We have to have rescue centers built all over the eastern seaboard. We should start building rescue centers that can be utilized during this time of calamities," he said.
Zubiri recalled that in Cagayan de Oro City alone, at least 1,000 people died after Typhoon "Sendong" hit the country.
"It was a nightmare in Northern Mindanao. Geohazard maps are necessary to make sure residents will be removed from these geohazard areas. We should identify the no-build zone, and those living by the rivers, we had to forcibly evacuate them and move them to higher ground," he said.
