| Abstract |
We are greatly honored by the organizers of this conference, the Geothermal Institute of the University of Auckland, for being to discuss the Philippine experience in geothermal energy development. That our country's policies and programs should merit attention in this prestigious gathering is very heartening. Our sense of pride is tempered, however, by the fact that many of our achievementsare traceable to the kind assistanceof other nations who served as our tutors and models. In effect, our technology is thus a combination or mixture of the best knowledge and experience drawn from different countries, and the response of Filipino technologists to some of our uniquely Philippine problems, all of whom deserve a share of the honors. . Among these countries,we are very grateful to New Zealand whose advanced technology in developing hot-water dominated geothennal fields fitted exactly the Philippine conditions. In particular, we wish to cite the consulting firm of Kingston Reynolds Thom and Allardice, now just KRTA, for teaching us and helping us in geothermal exploration and development. KRTA started as the principal executing agency in the bilateral New Zealand-Philippines Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), geothermal aid program, and KRTA remains to this day as direct consultant to the PNOC geothennal program. We would like also to cite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (now Ministry of External Relations and Trade, or of the New Zealand government. TheMinistry initiated the energy cooperation program and provided financial and technical aid to the Philippine geothermal industry. The Ministry also continues to facilitate the training of PNOC employeesin various New Zealand institutions. Early in our associationwith New Zealand,it was the Department of Science and Industrial Research (DSIR) which conducted geoscientific studies in PNOC fields, as well as initiated technology transfer programs with Filipino technicians and scientists. For its part, the Ministry of Works and Development undertook the drilling of the first 12 Tongonan and three Palinpinon exploratory wells. As a paning gift, the Ministry of Works donated to us one Ideco drilling rig which is still in use in our geothermal areas. This is likewise a fitting occasion to the great assistance provided by the Geothermal Institute, Universityof Auckland, where over 70PNOC geothermal employees have studied and completed diploma and masters courses in earth science and engineering disciplines. In addition,we have the first Filipino doctoral candidate at the Institute and he is now close to graduation. We expect to enrol further students in future years. The assistance from New Zealand over the past decade has specifically helped us to develop two geothermal fields which are now in operation, and Palinpinon-I, both in islands in Central Philippines. |