DAVAO CITY — The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy’s (MENRE) Energy Management and Development Services (EMDS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) jointly conducted a workshop for the Joint Review and Evaluation Committee (JREC) on Petroleum Service Contract (PSC) Applications in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from July 31 to August 1, 2024 in Davao City.

Following the last submission of the 1st BARMM Conventional Energy Bid Round for Coal Operating Contract (COC) Application on May 27, 2024, the Joint REC is gearing up for the upcoming Submission and Bid Openings on Petroleum Service Contract (PSC) Applications on August 27. Three Pre-Determined Areas (PDAs) have been revealed for petroleum exploration namely the PDA-BP-1 Cotabato Basin, and PDA-BP-1 & 2 Sulu Sea Basin.

The intensive two-day workshop covered several key areas, including the legal, financial, technical documentation requirements, and the work program for petroleum projects. Additionally, the MENRE legal team presented Section 6, which outlines the preferential rights of Bona Fide Residents of BARMM under the IEB Circular on the Joint Award of PSCs and COCs in the BARMM.

Subsequent to the lectures, members participated in simulated exercises designed to provide hands-on experience with the evaluation process. These exercises, which involved evaluating the legal, financial, and technical documents submitted by an applicant, aimed to ensure that members were proficient in assessing the completeness and accuracy of bid submissions and in identifying any potential issues or discrepancies.

This workshop represents a crucial step in ensuring that the JREC is well-prepared to handle the upcoming PSC applications effectively. It aims to attract credible and capable investors to the BARMM region, thereby promoting the exploration, development, and production of petroleum resources.

The event was attended by BG Joint REC Co-vice Chairperson BDG Mohajirin T. Ali of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), along with other Joint REC members, including DG for Energy Nasiri B. Abas of MENRE, Director Al-Sharif Tamburani of MENRE Administrative and Finance Services, Atty. Mark Esmael Nor of MENRE Legal Divisiob, Director Raphael Remo of MENRE Mines and Geosciences, Chief Moammer Tabara of MENRE-EMDS, and the Joint REC TWG Members.