Philippines-Japan Clean Energy Partnership Highlighted

The Department of Energy (DoE) said on Sunday it wants to continue cooperation with Japan, especially on decarbonization, to promote clean energy sources in the Philippines.

“The Philippines and Japan have a strong and dynamic partnership built on mutual respect, shared values ​​and common goals, and we look forward to continuing this,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said, welcoming Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, who paid a courtesy call on Friday with the delegation.

Lotilla said Motegi’s visit “underscores our shared commitment to further strengthening our strategic partnership on energy.”

A key area of ​​cooperation between the two countries is the Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC), a platform established by Japan to further promote decarbonization in Asia with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality (or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions, leading to reduced environmental pollution and improved population health).

The Department of Energy emphasized that the Philippines and Japan recognized AZEC as a framework within which the public and private sectors in Japan and the Philippine government could discuss challenges and solutions with other stakeholders.

Lotilla told Motegi that financing the transition and access to clean technologies are very important elements for the Philippines to enable it to achieve its energy transformation.

He added that the priority for the Philippines is to maximize the use of Japanese aid through the development and use of renewable and other clean energy sources.

Two examples, the DoE said, are the strengthening of cooperation with the ASEAN and East Asia Economic Research Institute to fund Phase 3 of the Gas Policy Development Project, and the Philippines’ project proposal for a hydropower site inventory that was submitted to the Japan International Cooperation Agency.