In a bid to address escalating energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, a lawmaker from Mindanao has called for the establishment of a dedicated research and development agency focused on deuterium. Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers is pushing for House Bill 11295, which aims to create the Philippine Deuterium Research and Development Authority (PDRDA). Barbers highlighted the potential of the Philippine trench, known as the Mindanao Deep, which is believed to hold the world’s largest deposits of deuterium.
Barbers emphasized the importance of exploring sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources like deuterium, which could mitigate the adverse effects of global warming caused by carbon emissions from fossil fuels. He noted that deuterium, a hydrogen isotope used in nuclear fusion, is abundant in the ocean and could serve as a clean energy alternative, producing only water vapor or steam as byproducts. This could replace traditional fuels such as gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, and aviation fuel, offering a versatile solution for powering internal combustion engines.
The proposed PDRDA would be an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), tasked with facilitating the integration of foreign expertise and resources to enhance local knowledge and technology transfer related to deuterium-based energy. The agency would be governed by a Board of Trustees, comprising government officials, private sector representatives, and members from scientific and engineering organizations involved in energy research and development.
Barbers pointed out that since the 1980s, there have been claims about the Philippines possessing the world’s largest deuterium deposits, which could significantly benefit the national economy if mined. However, he acknowledged that these claims have faced skepticism from some quarters. He also suggested that major oil companies and oil-producing countries might feel threatened by deuterium’s potential as an alternative energy source, fearing economic collapse if deuterium is successfully explored and harnessed. Barbers warned that these entities might attempt to derail the country’s deuterium research and development efforts through pressure or disinformation campaigns.