- DOE partners with Palawan State University and Western Philippines University for a PHP 6.1 million scholarship fund.
- Program supports students near petroleum sites and strengthens university energy programs.
- Initiative links petroleum development with education and skill-building.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a PHP 6.1 million scholarship and institutional assistance program in partnership with Palawan State University (PSU) and Western Philippines University (WPU). The initiative is funded through Petroleum Service Contracts (PSCs) operating in the Northwest Palawan Basin.
The program, is backed by PXP Corporation, NPG Pty. Ltd., and The Philodrill Corporation, which operate PSCs 74, 75, 14C1, and 14C2. In the first phase, USD 55,000 will go to PSU and USD 50,000 to WPU to support scholarships and institutional improvements.
Sharon S. Garin, Energy Secretary, said, the partnership ensures that energy resource development directly benefits host communities. “By linking petroleum with education, we are investing in the youth of Palawan and shaping the country’s future energy workforce”, she added.
The program offers monthly stipends and allowances to students living near petroleum project sites and Funds University capacity-building for courses related to the energy sector. It also fulfills PSC obligations to support local universities and colleges during exploration and production phases.
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A new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) ensures direct fund transfer to the universities, promoting transparency and accountability. Secretary Garin said the framework could become a national model for future education-linked energy projects.
Palawan, a hub of petroleum exploration, is expected to gain from both energy development and enhanced technical training, reinforcing the DOE’s goal of turning resource extraction into long-term human capital investment.
