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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Philippines to use ASEAN chair to fast-track regional power grid

Philippines to use ASEAN chair to fast-track regional power grid

Published Dec 10, 2025 03:28 pm
The Philippines will use its upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairship in 2026 to champion the development of a regional power link, the Department of Energy (DOE) said.
Michael Sinocruz, director of the Energy Policy and Planning Bureau said the agency has proposed a framework to advance ASEAN energy interconnectivity and submarine cabling, aiming for establishment by January 2026.
“The Philippines, as the ASEAN chair for next year, will focus on strengthening regional energy connectivity as a core strategy for advancing the energy transition,” Sinocruz said during the 2025 Energy Security Forum.
The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) is a long-sought-after initiative designed to connect member countries, including the Philippines, for cross-border energy sharing.
“Central to this effort is the operationalization of the enhanced MOU of APG, which entails the establishment of mitigated policy, regulatory, and technical task forces, and the development of its comprehensive work plans, including the operational guidelines for the cross-border submarine power table, with the Philippines being designated as the lead country coordinator for the governance component,” he added.
The draft framework is expected to be provided roughly four months after January, allowing for review and revisions before the finalization of operational guidelines and work plans between June and August.
The guidelines are slated for endorsement in September next year during the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), with implementation projected to start by October.
“These initiatives contribute directly to the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026 to 2030, and will potentially provide a more integrated regional power market, enable multilateral power training, and support the stable integration of renewable energy (RE),” Sinocruz said.
The DOE is also proposing an “ASEAN Energy Assemble,” which would focus on welcoming investments, skills improvement, and green industries, as well as technologies, digitalization, and regional cooperation.
“We are also thinking of establishing a separate technical working group or the sub-sector network under ASEAN Energy Cooperation, specifically dealing with energy resiliency,” Sinocruz said.
Of the 650 ASEAN meetings scheduled for 2026, 34 dialogues will be designated to address the country’s energy industry, in coordination with the National Organizing Council (NOC).
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