Energy tie-ups with US eyed

UNITED STATES Undersecretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez and Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael M. Lotilla vowed on Tuesday to explore US-Philippine partnerships for renewable energy (RE) and nuclear energy ventures.

“(I had an) important discussion yesterday in Manila with Secretary Raphael Lotilla and partners from the Department of Energy (DoE) on increasing cooperation on renewable energy and civil nuclear power to bring more abundant, cleaner energy sources to the Filipino people,” Mr. Fernandez said in an X post on Wednesday.

In a separate statement, Mr. Lotilla said the two focused the US cooperating with the Philippines on energy security and semiconductor manufacturing.

The two officials had also discussed the possibility of more scholarships for Filipinos in the US, and foreign partnerships to boost the Philippine energy infrastructure.

Mr. Fernandez on Tuesday met with Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto to discuss US-Philippine tie-ups in critical minerals, semiconductors and energy security.

Mr. Recto had proposed a free trade agreement with the US in a separate meeting.

In November, the US Department of State said it would collaborate with the Philippines in exploring ways on growing the global semiconductor industry under the CHIPS Act of 2022, a US law that provided funding to boost its local manufacturing and research of semiconductors. — John Victor D. Ordoñez