Prime Energy turned up the volume on the case for indigenous natural gas as the Philippines locked in a new, coordinated push on energy security, sealing a rare public-private pact to power the country through the energy transition.
At the 2nd MAP Energy CEO Forum on December 1, Prime Energy President and CEO Donnabel Kuizon-Cruz called domestic gas a “strategic anchor” of the national energy system, as the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and the Department of Energy (DOE) formalized the Joint Energy Action Agenda (JEAA) for 2026–2029.
“As we scale up renewables, gas keeps the lights on and prices stable,” Kuizon-Cruz said. he underlined the role of indigenous supply and efficient midstream infrastructure in shielding households and businesses from volatility. Kuizon-Cruz also served as technical working group lead for the JEAA.
The three-year agenda is a first-of-its-kind alignment between government and the private sector under a single action plan to accelerate the Philippine Energy Plan 2023–2050. Its priorities are clear: close supply gaps, fix infrastructure and market bottlenecks, and manage costs—while delivering reliable, affordable power nationwide, including off-grid areas.
Crafted through a series of MAP-led roundtables with the DOE and industry leaders, the JEAA sharpens collaboration at a time when demand is rising and the transition clock is ticking. At its core is a pragmatic message: renewables will grow fast, but natural gas will steady the system.
Industry leaders stressed gas’s role in affordability and grid stability, even as exploration for new domestic supply ramps up. Prime Energy is at the forefront of that push.
As operator of Service Contract 38, the company is investing USD893 million in the Malampaya Phase 4 drilling and exploration program to extend the life of the Malampaya gas field—still supplying around 20 percent of Luzon’s power needs and standing as a pillar of Philippine energy security.
