Renewed tensions in the Middle East and escalating shipping disruptions, which trigger severe oil price shocks, are straining consumers and global economic growth alike.

Since we import the vast majority of our energy requirements, these tensions have unmasked the fragility of the country’s power supply and transport sectors, which are critically exposed to global supply chain shocks and geopolitical conflicts.

This was as much as admitted by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin during the general membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Wednesday.

Just on the side—and this might interest you as well, Virginia—while seated at a table composed mostly of former MAP presidents, several comments and reactions came my way following MAP President Donald Lim’s proposal for the association to adopt an “anthem.”

One suggestion I heard is for the “anthem” to be shortened. Likewise, this question was raised: “Should it be a hymn or an anthem?”

From what I understand, choosing between a hymn and an anthem for a group song depends on the intended mood, performance style, and message. Hymns, like the Rotary Hymn, are generally reverent, congregational songs meant for broad participation, while anthems are more complex, narrative, or celebratory pieces performed by a dedicated group.

For my unsolicited opinion: if Prexy Donald’s objective is to have everyone in the room sing along easily, or if the subject matter is deeply reflective, then it should be a hymn rather than an anthem.

Now, back to the topic at hand. Yes, Virginia, the Philippines primarily imports its energy supply. The current conflict highlights the country’s structural vulnerability in energy security, unmasking, on one hand, our near-total dependence on imported fossil fuels.

On the other hand, it serves as a wake-up call for the government as it struggles to strengthen energy security—a race against time to decouple a growing economy from volatile imported fossil fuels against the backdrop of looming depletion in domestic gas reserves and recurrent, climate-induced grid disruptions.

This vulnerability was exemplified last month when the lights went out three times in a single week in parts of Luzon. Rotating brownouts were likewise experienced in the Visayas region.

I beg to differ with the view that this was simply caused by peak demand due to the soaring heat index. This is not a seasonal inconvenience; it is a supply problem that has been building for years. Based on recent studies, our power generation self-sufficiency has slipped to 39 percent, the lowest in years.

Against this backdrop, the energy secretary stated in no uncertain terms that the coal moratorium, issued in 2020 under very different supply conditions, “stays.” This is not an argument against the clean energy direction. That direction is correct and should not change.

However, a moratorium is a policy tool, not a permanent condition. Policy tools must be reassessed against the conditions they are meant to address.

For instance, new coal capacity—built to current high-efficiency standards that generate more electricity from less fuel at significantly lower emissions per kilowatt-hour—is exactly what a credible transition bridge looks like during the years between now and when domestic renewables can carry the full baseload requirement.

The goal is not more coal forever. The goal is enough reliable power to keep the transition from breaking down under the weight of its own ambition. Ms. Garin cited San Miguel Corp., which, through its power subsidiary San Miguel Global Power, operates clean coal technology using Circulating Fluidized Bed and Supercritical Boiler technologies.

As a chemist by education, I am completely fascinated by this new technology, which is designed to reduce sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions and burn fuel more efficiently than traditional coal plants.

That said, and considering our archipelagic state, I support the thrust of the good secretary that beefing up the country’s energy security is “a matter of finding the perfect mix.”

Come to think of it, though the structural challenges are immense and multifaceted, instead of whining and complaining about the difficulty of connectivity, concerned authorities should alternatively harness our unique archipelagic location.

For one, the Philippines is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire. This features high tectonic and volcanic activity that ensures the country has immense natural heat sources underground. In fact, it is believed that the country is one of the world’s top producers of geothermal energy.

Second, since we are situated near the equator, the country receives abundant solar irradiance, making solar power highly viable—which is already the trend for those living in gated communities.

Admitting that the structural challenges of this struggle are multifaceted, Sec. Garin believes that “the whole country should work for energy security” and that MAP, in particular, “could be a catalyst” for this objective.

Indeed!