President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (R) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) on Wednesday, January 10, 2023 witnessed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation between their two countries. (Photo from Presidential Communications Office)
MANILA, Philippines — Manila and Jakarta are eyeing an energy agreement.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday witnessed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation between their two countries.
“Our Ministries have worked hard and today we saw one of these works bear fruit as we witnessed the signing of the MOU on the Cooperation in the Field of Energy. Through this MOU, our countries create a new synergy as we cooperate to achieve energy security,” said Marcos in a joint press briefing.
The agreement comes a week after Visayas suffered island wide blackouts due to the alleged negligence of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Marcos lamented the inconvenience caused by the blackouts, and lawmakers have been called to revoke the NGCP’s franchise.
The MOU, while not binding, indicates that two parties share an intent.
“I welcome the signing of the MOU on energy cooperation,” said Widodo during the meeting with Marcos.
According to the Department of Energy, the Philippines and Indonesia agreed to facilitate cooperation of their businesses during times of critical supply constraints on energy commodities.
“The signing of the MOU reinforces and updates the long-term energy cooperation between the two countries. On the part of the Philippines, it is an offshoot of our President’s efforts to achieve higher energy security through energy diplomacy,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said in a statement.