Manila, Philippines – In a significant step toward strengthening strategic partnerships, Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla welcomed Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and his delegation in a courtesy visit on Friday, 02 August 2024 at the Department of Energy (DOE). The meeting underscores the unwavering commitment of both nations to enhance their robust and dynamic partnership on energy.
"The Philippines and Japan share a robust and dynamic partnership built upon mutual respect, shared values, and common goals. We deeply appreciate the courtesy visit of Secretary General Motegi today, which highlights our shared commitment to further strengthen our strategic partnership on energy”, Secretary Lotilla said.
One key area of collaboration is the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), which reflects Japan's dedication to leading regional efforts in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development. As an AZEC member country, the Philippines has actively engaged with Japan through various AZEC-related initiatives at the Presidential/Prime Ministerial, official, and business levels to achieve decarbonization and promote global sustainable growth.
Both countries acknowledged the importance of AZEC as a framework under which the Japanese public and private sectors and the government of the Philippines, led by the DOE to discuss the challenges and solutions to advance efforts for decarbonization by developing specific projects, policy development support, strengthening cooperation and promoting transition financing. With coal providing around 60% of the Philippines’ power requirements, Japan’s experience and its program to shift to cleaner technologies, through co-firing using ammonia and hydrogen are welcome opportunity for the Philippines.
Particularly, the Secretary underscored transition financing and access to clean technologies as important elements for countries like the Philippines in pursuing energy transition.
Japan has also been involved in various energy projects and initiatives in the Philippine energy sector through its development agencies and private companies. These collaborations encompass infrastructure enhancements, and capacity-building efforts, underscoring the strong ties between the two countries.
Secretary Lotilla added that the Philippines, through the DOE is taking the opportunity to implement various programs and projects to maximize Japan’s foreign assistance the use of new, emerging, and more efficient energy technologies and the development and utilization of renewable and other clean energy sources.
Earlier this year, the DOE firmed up its collaboration with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) to fund Phase 3 of the Gas Policy Development Project. This collaborative effort aims to complete and finalize a regulatory framework for the downstream natural gas industry, build the capacity of regulators, and provide evidence-based data and technical inputs for policymaking and sectoral planning.
Additionally, the Philippines' project proposal for the inventory of hydropower potential sites in the Philippines submitted to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has been approved in principle. A detailed design survey is currently underway to determine the project scope.
Japan has also assisted, through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) private sector in investing in the Philippine energy sector. ###
