The Philippines will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Special Senior Officials Meeting on Energy and its associated meetings in Bohol from Jan. 20 to 22, 2026 to advance regional energy collaboration and security.
Under the Philippine chairship of ASEAN, the meetings will convene energy senior officials and governing council members to discuss new initiatives and review ongoing work programs.
The sessions aim to ensure regional cooperation remains coordinated and responsive to evolving energy needs while preparing for the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030.
“For the energy sector, we will focus on the ASEAN power grid,” Department of Energy Undersecretary and Philippines senior official on energy leader Felix William Fuentebella said.
“The buzzword is: How do we work together utilizing all energy resources and addressing the supply chain of all ASEAN member states so that we can be a more competitive region?” he said.
Fuentebella said the Philippines is advancing an energy agenda that delivers security, inclusive economic growth, innovation and resilience across the region. He noted that the technical discussions aim to turn shared commitments into practical action to build a sustainable energy future.
The APAEC 2026-2030 serves as the regional 5-year blueprint for energy cooperation. It aligns priorities across seven program areas, including the ASEAN power grid, clean coal transformation, renewable energy, civilian nuclear energy, oil and gas connectivity, energy efficiency and regional policy.
Officials are expected to endorse annual energy priorities for the Philippine chairship. They also intend to deepen strategic cooperation with ASEAN dialogue partners to fortify regional resilience against energy disruptions.
The Department of Energy is coordinating with the National Organizing Council, the provincial government of Bohol and the municipality of Panglao to support the event. The meetings are focused on technical alignment to ensure work programs are synchronized for the year.
Fuentebella said that as chair, the Philippines is committed to ensuring collective efforts deliver tangible benefits. These include powering homes and businesses, strengthening resilience and supporting inclusive growth for all ASEAN peoples.
