The Philippines is making significant strides towards venturing into native hydrogen exploration, with the government gearing up to award the country's first service contracts in Central Luzon, as revealed by Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla. The competitive bidding process for the hydrogen contracts, covering predetermined areas (PDAs), has been progressing, with applications passing the completeness check and moving towards further evaluation. Lotilla emphasized the need for President Marcos' approval before finalizing the awards. The Department of Energy (DOE) received five applications during the 2024 Philippine bid round, reflecting a growing interest in hydrogen exploration, especially from well-known international players. The DOE is currently engaged in a thorough evaluation process of the qualified applications, looking to complete it by the year's end and present the highest-ranked applicants for endorsement. Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales highlighted the significance of this initiative, projecting a transformative journey that could unfold over several years. The bid round in 2024 marked a milestone with the highest number of valid applications for PDAs, showcasing a promising future for hydrogen exploration in the Philippines.