Insights from a Batangas Parish Priest

AS the Philippines faces the reality of dwindling natural gas reserves from the Malampaya field —responsible for supplying 20 percent of Luzon's power requirements — importing natural gas in the form of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) and processing it at strategic LNG plants across the country has been certified as a priority.

But the Philippines' move to accelerate adoption of LNG is further motivated by energy sustainability. LNG is largely seen as a highly suitable "transition" fuel where a noticeable increase in the use of natural gas is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly. In fact, under the Clean Energy Scenario of the Philippine Energy Plan, the country targets LNG to account for 26 percent of its requirements along with 50 percent Renewables by 2040.