Press Release - Cayetano pushes for 'Filipino gas first' policy through the Natural Gas Bill

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday called for a 'Filipino gas first' policy, stressing that the Philippine Natural Gas Development Act is crucial for achieving long-term energy security as the country shifts towards cleaner energy sources.

This statement came after his interpellation with Senator Win Gatchalian on September 18, 2024, regarding Senate Bill 2793, a measure sponsored by Committee on Energy chair Senator Pia Cayetano that is focused on supporting the development of indigenous natural gas.

"Let's make the Philippine Natural Gas Development Act the best bill possible hindi lang para hindi tayo magkamali, pero para y'ung direksyon natin bilang bansa ay mas mabilis tayong magkaroon ng security sa larangan ng energy," Cayetano said.

Stressing the urgency of passing the bill, the senator fully supported Senator Pia's call for harnessing local natural resources to achieve energy security in the country, citing the challenges in securing energy supplies, particularly in light of recent global crises.

"Tuwing magkaka-giyera at nakita rin natin noong COVID-19 pandemic na napaka-vulnerable natin hindi lang sa supply chain sa mga produkto pati na rin sa energy dahil nga y'ung oil, coal, and natural gas ay ini-import natin," he said.

Cayetano said developing the country's own indigenous natural gas will mitigate the reliance on imported liquefied natural gas which are highly volatile in terms of pricing.

"Iyon po ang ating hinihimay, kung paano i-promote na magkaroon pa tayo ng mas magandang supply sa natural gas," he said.

He said prompt and decisive action is needed because developing the country's own natural gas sources is a long-term process.

"I cannot really predict what's going to happen in three years but unless there is technology that makes wind and solar sources capable of powering the whole country twenty-four-seven, and unless y'ung national grid natin ay maayos y'ung capability, I would assume that putting up a power plant would take the usual three to five years, and setting up a well for natural gas could take three to seven years," he said.

"That's how urgent this bill is," he added.

Cayetano urged the government to actively support the