The Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and the Batangas local government unit (LGU) have formed a partnership to explore the development of an offshore wind integration port in the province.
PNOC president and chief executive Oliver Butalid (pictured right) and Batangas governor Hermilando Mandanas (left) led the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of key officials of both parties.
Butalid said: “This cooperation will send the right signal to investors, as they look for strong alignment between local and national governments.
“As PNOC continues to strengthen collaboration with LGUs, we recognise their critical role in energy development initiatives.”
Under the agreement, PNOC will take the lead in conducting exploratory activities such as feasibility studies, identification of potential areas, and initial engagements with industry experts and other government agencies.
The provincial government, meanwhile, will provide technical support, regulatory coordination, and preliminary stakeholder engagement to aid in the assessment.
It will also assist in gathering relevant data, facilitating discussions with communities and stakeholders, and exploring potential investment interest.
Butalid added: “When LGUs take an active role, many bottlenecks can be addressed, paving the way for significant progress in the energy sector.”
The strategic location of Batangas positions the province as an ideal site for OSWIP development, given its proximity to multiple offshore wind energy service contracts.
While being the country’s largest producer of fossil fuel-based energy, the local government has begun taking steps to explore renewable energy options through its Local Energy Plan (LEP) 2024-2030.
With the signing of the MOU, PNOC and the Batangas provincial government say they are reaffirming their commitment to develop and promote energy resources for national self-sufficiency and economic growth.
By leveraging Batangas’ strong local support, the collaboration aims to attract future investments in renewable energy, particularly in offshore wind infrastructure, creating new opportunities and enhancing the Philippines’ long-term energy security.