The Department of Energy (DOE) has vowed to help facilitate future phases of the Malampaya drilling after the Phase 4 (MP4) drilling campaign kicked off to augment the capacity of the country’s only natural gas field.

After the welcome ceremony for the Noble Viking drillship at the offshore Bagong Pag-Asa Drill Site in Palawan on Thursday, DOE Officer-in-Charge Sharon S. Garin said in a Friday statement that the government is confident the campaign will help sustain and boost production from Malampaya.

“This occasion marks a significant moment not only for the SC 38 Consortium but also for the government, and more importantly, for the Filipino people we are committed to serving,” Garin said.

The Noble Viking will drill three wells: Camago-3, Malampaya East-1, and Bagong Pag-Asa-1. The first gas is targeted by the fourth quarter of 2026. Once successful, it will help reduce the country’s reliance on imported fuels such as coal, diesel, and liquefied natural gas.

“This development not only strengthens our energy security and reduces our dependence on imported fuel,” Garin said, “but also for consumers and supports our industries and jobs.”

The DOE has declared MP4 as an Energy Project of National Significance, enabling operator Prime Energy to fast-track development. The project includes drilling under Project Sinagtala and the Bagong Pag-Asa exploration well.

The certification, granted under Executive Order 30, streamlines regulatory processes by requiring agencies to act on permit applications within 30 days.

Since beginning commercial operations, Malampaya has contributed over $13.8 billion to the Philippine government. At its peak, it fueled as much as 40 percent of Luzon’s power demand and continues to supply about 20 percent of its current energy requirements.