DOE ‘excludes’ Bangsamoro areas from petroleum exploration

MANILA, Philippines – Until a Bangsamoro juridical entity is created, the Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to temporarily exclude 3 areas for potential petroleum exploration, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said on Friday, May 9.

Petilla made the statement at the launch of the 5th Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR5) for the exploration of potential coal and petroleum areas in the country.

Petilla said the decision to temporarily exclude the 3 areas was out of respect for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which was signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in March.

“There were 3 areas actually that were under the Bangsamoro area. Out of respect for the peace [process],  before it becomes a law, we’ve actually taken them out temporarily. But we promise to put them back  in concurrence with the Bangsamoro government once it is duly formed,” he said. 

Petilla was referring to the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will create the Bangsamoro juridical entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The DOE did not identify the 3 areas that were temporarily excluded.

The PECR is a regular activity of the government to showcase the petroleum and coal exploration opportunities in the country.

Petilla said that through the PECR, the government has “created an equal playing field for all interested parties, in which the government ensures that all service contracts and offered areas are in accordance with existing Philippine laws and policies.”

For petroleum, the submission of applications will be from June 2, 2014 to February 27, 2015. Applications will be opened only after all submissions.

The submission  period for applicants for coal is from May 29 until September 19, 2014.

After the opening of applications, there will be a two-month evaluation period. Applications will be evaluated for compliance with the DOE requirements on legal, technical and financial capability. Applications are required to include the proposed work program and economic development of the proponent.

Endorsement of winning applicants for coal and petroleum is targeted on  November 21, 2014 and May 4, 2015, respectively.

The PECR5 offers 11 areas for petroleum exploration mostly in Luzon: Area 1 in Southeast Luzon; 2 and 3 in Masbate-Iloilo; 4 and 5 in Northeast Palawan; 6 in Southeast Palawan; 7 in West Palawan; and 8-11 in West Luzon.

For coal exploration, 15 areas were identified. 

For area 1, Carmen, Lanuza &Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Tandag & Tago, Surigao del Sur for area 2; Tandag, Tago & San Miguel, Surigao del Sur for area 3; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte & Sibagat, Agusan del Sur for area 4; and Butuan City, Agusan del Norte & Sibagat, Agusan del Sur for area 5.

For area 6, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur; Bunawan & Trento, Agusan del Sur for area 7;  Bunawan & Trento, Agusan del Sur and Bislig City, Surigao del Sur for area 8; Lingig &Bislig City, Surigao del Sur for area 9; and Godod, Zamboanga del Norte and Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay for area 10.

For area 11, Godod, Zamboanga del Norte and Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay; Baliguian & Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte for area 12; Alicia, Imelda & Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay for area 13; Imelda, Malangas, Alicia & Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay for area 14; and Maitum, Sarangani for area 15. – Rappler.com