The DOE on Tuesday formally awarded the Year 1-Phase 1 contract for the Philippine Gradiometry and Seismic Survey Project (PGSSP) to global geophysical services firm Metatek, marking the start of the government's flagship airborne geophysical survey program.
The PGSSP, which will run from 2026 to 2029, seeks to produce high-quality geophysical datasets across underexplored sedimentary basins to provide a clearer understanding of the country's subsurface geology.
The data will be used to support evidence-based exploration for indigenous energy resources and guide long-term energy planning.
"Energy security begins with knowing what we have. Through this project, we are replacing guesswork with scientific data so we can responsibly develop our own energy resources and strengthen the country's long-term energy future," Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said in a statement.
Garin said strengthening the country's indigenous energy resources would reduce dependence on imported fuels, improve resilience against global energy price volatility, and help ensure a more secure, reliable, and affordable energy supply for households and businesses.
She added that the geophysical data generated by the project would also support disaster risk reduction, environmental planning, mineral exploration, and scientific research.
Initial contract
The contract covers Year 1 of Phase 1 of the project, specifically the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of airborne gradiometry data across approximately 40,000 square kilometers covering the Agusan-Davao Basin and the Davao Gulf.
The work forms part of the project's first phase, a two-year airborne survey program that will eventually cover about 120,000 square kilometers before proceeding to the second phase, which involves the acquisition and interpretation of two-dimensional seismic data.
Energy Undersecretary Alessandro O. Sales said the project underscores the importance of collaboration among the government, industry, and technical experts in advancing the country's energy development agenda.
He said the initiative would generate the scientific data needed to support responsible resource development and guide future energy planning.
Data needed
The DOE expects the PGSSP to significantly reduce geological uncertainty in underexplored sedimentary basins, enabling both government and private companies to make more informed exploration decisions while boosting investor confidence in the country's upstream energy sector.
The project forms part of the government's broader strategy to responsibly develop indigenous energy resources, strengthen long-term energy security, and reduce the country's dependence on imported fuels.
Metatek, the project's contractor, is an international geophysical services company specializing in high-definition subsurface mapping for energy resources—including hydrocarbons, geothermal, helium, and native hydrogen—as well as strategic and critical minerals. —Connie Fernandez-Brojan| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
