DOE highlights PH, Japan clean energy partnership 

The Department of Energy (DoE) on Sunday said it wanted to continue collaborating with Japan, especially on decarbonization, to promote clean energy sources in the Philippines, according to a report by Manila Times.

"The Philippines and Japan share a robust and dynamic partnership built upon mutual respect, shared values, and common goals, and we seek to continue that," Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said as he welcomed Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, who with a delegation paid a courtesy visit on Friday.

Lotilla said Motegi's visit "highlights our shared commitment to further strengthen our strategic partnership regarding energy."

A key area of collaboration for both countries is the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), a platform established by Japan to further advance decarbonization in Asia toward the goal of carbon neutrality (or the elimination of carbon emissions, which will lead to less environmental pollution and improved health among the population).

The DoE stressed that the Philippines and Japan recognized the AZEC as a framework in which public and private sectors in Japan and the government of the Philippines could discuss challenges and solutions with other stakeholders.

Lotilla told Motegi that transition financing and access to clean technologies were very important elements for the Philippines to pursue energy transition.

Maximizing Japanese assistance through the development and utilization of renewable and other clean energy sources is top of mind for the Philippines, he added.

Two examples are the strengthening of the collaboration with the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia to fund Phase 3 of the Gas Policy Development Project and a Philippine project proposal for the inventory of hydropower sites that has been submitted to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the DoE said.