<p>
Over this 23-year period, it is estimated that power generated from Tiwi and Mak-Ban displaced 152.6 million barrels of oil thus, saving the country an estimated US$ 3.21 billion in terms of foreign exchange.
</p> 
<div class="image-550">
<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-19/tiwi_geothermal-plant.webp" alt="Pilot 
 geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay" loading="lazy" />
<div>
(Tiwi Geothermal Power Pilot Plant; foot of Malinao volcano in Albay, 1970)
</div>
</div>
<p>
Accordingly, even before the energy crisis of the early seventies, the President Marcos administration already initiated efforts to develop the country's indigenous energy resources.  The general intent was to lessen the country's dependence on imported fossil fuels.
</p>
<p>
In 1967, recognizing the potential and benefits of geothermal development, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act No. 5092, otherwise known as the Geothermal Law. RA No. 5092 that stipulated that natural gases and geothermal energy resources belong to the State and enabled the government to set aside or reserve lands as geothermal reservations.
</p>
<p>
Thereafter, Presidential Decree (PD) 739 was issued on August 1, 1970 that established 17,661 hectares in Albay Province to constitute the Tiwi geothermal reservation.
</p>


<p>
<i>
Source: Philippine News Agency archives
</i>
</p>




January 11, 1979: the Philippines inaugurated its first geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay