Exploration company boosts geology education

MANILA, Philippines - ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Philippines (EMEPP) recently donated eight petrographic microscopes to the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Geological Sciences. These are a special type of optical microscope used in petrology and optical mineralogy to identify rocks and minerals in thin sections.

These were presented to UP-NIGS director Dr. Carlo Arcilla. 

“This project helps meet a need in university education and provides tools to better train geology students. Our industry continuously needs top quality, highly trained scientists,” EMEPP managing director Ian Fischer said.

Boosted by reports of numerous developments in the minerals and petroleum exploration sectors, the Philippines is experiencing a resurgence in the number of geology students and graduates in the country’s leading universities.

Dr. Rosana Balangue-Tarriela, deputy director for Academic Affairs of UP-NIGS, disclosed that the number of students applying for geology courses has been increasing in the past five years.

The UP official disclosed that the geology seniors of 2011 will be their biggest batch of graduates since 1985: 40 students are expected to receive their diplomas in April, double the 20 graduates of 2010.

This renewed interest in geology, she said, is attributed to the availability of high-impact and high-paying employment opportunities in big projects in the minerals development and petroleum exploration sectors. “The industry needs geologists and this has attracted more high school graduates to take up geology, especially at UP, the country’s pioneer in teaching geology.”

Government data shows that across the country, there are currently 75 priority projects in the minerals development industry. On the other hand, there are 36 active petroleum service contracts and 21 geothermal exploration development and exploration contracts with the government worth over P1 billion.

ExxonMobil is the operator of the Department of Energy’s Service Contract 56 (SC-56) in the South Sulu Sea.