MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) recently completed a field survey in Palawan as part of its nationwide effort to assess the country’s potential for native or “white” hydrogen.
The DOE said a technical team from its Energy Resource Development Bureau and the Energy Research and Testing Laboratory Services collected water, gas and rock samples from hot springs and rock outcrops in Puerto Princesa City, Narra and Sofronio Española from Aug. 12 to 15.
It said initial results from sites such as Kay’s Hot Spring in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa and Bato-Bato Hot Spring in Barangay Calategas, Narra, showed promising signs of naturally occurring hydrogen.
The DOE said the findings highlight Palawan’s potential to contribute to the country’s clean energy transition beyond the Malampaya gas project.
The survey was carried out with support from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau MIMAROPA, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and local government units, which provided logistical and technical assistance.
Collected samples will undergo laboratory analysis to determine their hydrogen content and guide DOE strategies for harnessing indigenous clean energy resources.
The survey follows a similar reconnaissance conducted in Zambales and Pangasinan from June 30 to July 4, which covered hot springs in Mangatarem, Pangasinan and Botolan, Zambales.
Those initial surveys provided baseline geological and environmental data to help guide exploration activities and determine priority areas for clean energy development.
DOE officials said the surveys also lay the groundwork for the country’s first specialized training on native hydrogen exploration, which will bring together local and international experts later this year.
Through these initiatives, the DOE said it aims to unlock new indigenous energy sources, advance scientific knowledge, and accelerate the Philippines’ transition toward a low-carbon, sustainable energy future.
Currently, most of the Philippines’ power plants run on coal and diesel, leaving electricity prices vulnerable to fluctuations in the global coal and oil markets.
The government aims to raise the share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.