The Philippines and the United States have reaffirmed the importance of nuclear energy as a key contributor to energy security.
The two countries last week launched the inaugural US-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue (EPD) that aims to advance commitments by Washington and Manila to deepen cooperation on energy security, energy access and clean energy transition, as agreed during US Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to the Philippines in November last year.
Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources Laura Lochman and Department of Energy Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Americas Beth Urbanas co-led the US delegation.
Philippine Department of Energy Supervising Undersecretary for policy and planning Felix William Fuentebella led the Philippine delegation.
The US and Philippine delegations emphasized the centrality of energy security, decarbonization and collaboration among nations with shared values in sustained economic development amid the region’s rapid economic growth and rising energy demands.
The US State Department said the discussion reinforced the role of energy cooperation in strengthening the US-Philippine partnership and focused on accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, modernizing and expanding transmission, and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Source : Philstar