Oil exploration in Alegria underway

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Energy has discovered a possible oil source in a mountain barangay in Alegria town in the southern part of Cebu Province.  

DOE-7 Regional Director Antonio Labios said the ongoing exploration in the said municipality will have no ill-effects on the environment. “Wala gyud ni impact sa environment kay dili ni sa dagat,” Labios said.

Labios said that an Australian drilling group has been formed to prepare the work plan and the department will be conducting an energy sector information and education campaign.

Labios hopes that the exploration, which covers an area of 197,000 hectares, will yield oil deposits of commercial quantity oil.

“If the oil found in Alegria is proven to be clean then it can be used by the oil stations here in Cebu,” Energy Assistant Secretary Ramon Allan Oca said.

Oca said if the exploration turns out positive, then the Municipality of Alegria is very privileged because this signals a rise in their local economy, attracting more business investments that can translate to more job opportunities for its residents.

Oca added having an oil source will also benefit the Province of Cebu and the entire country as well. —(FREEMAN)