The Department of Energy (DOE) remains uncertain whether the Galoc oil field is really within the territorial water of Palawan or not. DOE stated Oct. 28 that Galoc has the same setting with Malampaya which has a pending case at the Supreme Court after the Provincial Government filed a lawsuit over the share of Palawan from its operations.

According to DOE Acting Director Alicia Reyes, the decision on Galoc might follow the Supreme Court’s verdict on Malampaya.

“Galoc has the same setting as Malampaya. But then Vice-Gov. (David) Ponce de Leon mentioned Republic Act 7611 which defines the territorial boundaries of Palawan,” Reyes said.

The DOE reiterated that Galoc oil field, named after the Galoc Island in the northern part of the province, is located 53 kilometers away from the municipality of Busuanga and 51 kilometers from San Vicente.

“The Local Government Code did not mention on provincial waters. It’s just municipal waters so I think it is not with the DOE to have a statement on that, it has to be the DILG or the court to say that. We are following the existing laws and guidelines,” Reyes explained.

“It was recognized as part of the municipal waters of San Vicente and so municipal endorsement was secured from that municipality,” Rowe Garcia of Galoc Production Company (GPC) mentioned.

Garcia added that “Galoc was the first ever company that presented to the Provincial Board.” According to her, GPC and DOE already expressed in 2006 their desire to build a good relationship with Palawan.

“There is still a case going on but regardless of what happens in the case, we have to develop the good relationship and the partnership right now,” Garcia said referring to the ongoing case of the Provincial Government for share in Malampaya.

The Provincial Board expressed its optimism that the Galoc matter would not be like the Malampaya wherein the province had to fight for its share after the national government declared it as located off Palawan.

“I hope that this will not be like the Malampaya which we are still fighting for until now. Let’s hope that we will not need to count years or to have a new memorandum of agreement before Palaweños could benefit from this,” Board Member Leoncio Ola, chairman of the Board’s committee on energy, said.