Camago-3 fuels energy hope

Amid global uncertainty, a positive development has emerged for the Philippines as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the successful drilling and testing of the Camago-3 gas well—an indigenous energy source expected to help cushion Filipinos from volatile global fuel prices.

“My fellow Filipinos, today I am proud to announce another step forward in our mission to secure affordable, reliable energy for every Filipino,” President Marcos said in a video message posted on social media.

He added, “The Camago-3 well has been successfully drilled and tested, producing up to 60 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.”

The project marks the second major milestone under the $893-million Malampaya Phase 4 campaign, which is projected to yield significantly more recoverable gas than earlier developments. 

Together with previous wells, Camago-3 is expected to help extend the operational life of the Malampaya gas field by about six years—translating to more stable and potentially lower electricity costs for consumers.

“Every unit of power we generate from Malampaya instead of imported fuel is money saved by households, by small businesses, by every Filipino that pays an electric bill,” the President said.

Highlighting the urgency of energy security, he noted, “Alam natin lahat kung gaano kahalaga ito ngayon. Ang kaguluhan sa Middle East ay nagdudulot ng matinding pabago-bago sa presyo ng gasolina sa buong mundo.”

The President also pointed out that new subsea pipelines are now being installed—something not seen since 2000—signaling a broader effort to rebuild the country’s energy infrastructure.

Looking ahead, the government aims to begin gas delivery from the new wells by the fourth quarter of 2026, while work is already underway on another site, Bagong Pag-asa, located north of the Malampaya field.

The Malampaya Phase 4 drilling campaign is being carried out under the supervision of the Department of Energy as part of efforts to strengthen local energy production and reduce dependence on imported fuel.