The Philippines will use its ASEAN chairmanship to push for stronger regional safeguards against energy supply disruptions and faster cross-border power connectivity as Southeast Asian energy ministers meet in Manila this week.
The country will host the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM44) and related meetings from Oct. 5 to 9 at the Philippine International Convention Center, with energy security, infrastructure investment and the region’s energy transition expected to dominate discussions.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said volatility in global energy markets underscored the need for ASEAN members to strengthen collective preparedness, particularly as disruptions can quickly affect fuel costs, industrial activity and household expenses.
“Energy security is a shared challenge,” Garin said, adding that the Philippines’ chairmanship provides an opportunity to turn regional cooperation into practical mechanisms for responding to supply shocks.
A key focus will be the ASEAN Power Grid, with ministers expected to advance an enhanced memorandum of understanding, develop a regional planning framework and establish guidelines for submarine power cables. The initiatives could support deeper electricity trading and improve the region’s ability to move power across borders during supply constraints.
Energy ministers will also discuss the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security, which provides mechanisms for coordinated action during major petroleum supply disruptions.
The meetings are also expected to advance the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030, covering energy security, renewable energy, energy efficiency and infrastructure development.
Beyond government-to-government discussions, more than 1,500 delegates are expected at the parallel ASEAN Energy Business Forum. The gathering is intended to connect regional policy priorities with investment, financing and technology partnerships as member states balance energy security with longer-term decarbonization goals.
For the Philippines, the meetings offer a platform to pursue regional connectivity while addressing an immediate vulnerability: insulating domestic consumers and businesses from increasingly unpredictable global energy markets.
