FROM LEFT: Don Paulino, managing director of Shell Philippines Exploration BV; Fr. Eugene Elivera; Belinda Racela, asset manager of Chevron Malampaya LLC; Ramon del Rosario, general manager for External Relations of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum; Professor Marissa Pontillas, officer-in-charge of Palawan State University (PSU); and Ramon del Rosario, general manager for external relations of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum (at the back) during the inauguration of the PSU-Malampaya Engineering Laboratory on Wednesday (January 24, 2018). (Photo courtesy of Society of Petroleum Engineers-Palawan State University Student Chapter)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Joint venture partners for the Malampaya gas project donatedPHP5 million worth of laboratory and library equipment to a state university here on Wednesday.
The donation to the Palawan State University (PSU) paved the way for the establishment of the PSU-Malampaya Engineering Laboratory.
The facility was inaugurated on the same day for use of petroleum engineering students.
The deed of donation of the equipment was signed by Professor Marissa Pontillas, officer-in-charge of the university.
She accepted the donation from executives of the Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX), Chevron Malampaya LLC, and the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation, and Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc.
SPEX Managing Director Don Paulino said they were “part of the gas project’s commitment and responsibility to extend assistance to the community in their desire to touch the lives of the people” through building capacities.
He expressed hope they would encourage petroleum engineering students to pursue their field of endeavor, as well as create bright future for them.
“Dahil ito ang means na mas makapag-aral sila para sa engineering, petroleum, at general science. Kasama ito sa aming ginagawa para sa capacity building (These are means for them to study engineering, petroleum and general science better. This is part of what we do for capacity building),” he stated.
Paulino added the initiative was a step towards ensuring brighter futures for the younger generations of Filipinos, especially the young people of Palawan.
He said that several PSU petroleum engineering graduates were now working in Malampaya.
With the donation, he expects that more students would be inspired to pursue the same achievements that others before them already had.
“Ginagawa natin ito kasi gusto natin na maging sustainable ‘yung development. Bibigyan natin ng kakayahan ang mga kabataan na mamuhay ng mas maganda at sa mas mahabang panahon (We are doing this because we want development to be sustainable. We want to build capacities among the youth, so they can live good lives for a long time),” according to him. (PNA)
Photo by Celester Anna R. Formoso
