The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving to support the planned redevelopment of the Alegria Oil and Gas Field in southern Cebu as part of efforts to boost the country’s indigenous energy resources and strengthen long-term energy security.
In a statement, the DOE said Undersecretary Alessandro Sales and DOE Visayas Field Office Director Renante Sevilla joined Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro and representatives of Texcal Energy in discussions on the restart of operations at the Alegria field.
According to the DOE, Texcal Energy was awarded Petroleum Service Contract No. 89 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to redevelop the oil and gas field after three years of dormancy.
The project is expected to add to the country’s local oil and gas supply, create employment opportunities, and stimulate economic activity in Cebu and the broader Visayas region.
Initial estimates cited by the DOE showed that the Alegria field contains about 27.93 million barrels of oil in place, of which around six million barrels are considered recoverable. The field is also estimated to hold 6.6 billion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas.
The agency said the redevelopment forms part of its broader push to advance responsible exploration and development of indigenous energy resources.
“The DOE remains committed to advancing responsible exploration and development of indigenous energy resources to strengthen the country’s energy security and support long-term economic growth,” the department said.
The revival of the Alegria field is seen as a step toward reducing dependence on imported fuel while supporting local energy production and economic development in the Visayas.