SINGAPORE — The Philippines is eyeing a strategic energy partnership with Singapore by exploring potential joint carbon credit and nuclear programs to strengthen regional integration and advance a low-carbon future.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said during the opening day of Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) on Monday that Manila has already begun discussions with Singapore on an Implementation Agreement for Transition Credits, targeted for signing by February 2026.

“We also discussed nuclear energy safety, emergency response, and research on natural hydrogen,” she added.

Garin also updated Singapore on the Philippines’ carbon credit policy framework to boost transparency and credibility in the market.

HIgh-level dialogue

During the high-level dialogue, Garin reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to a resilient, interconnected, and people-centered energy future.

She cited Manila’s support for the Enhanced ASEAN Power Grid Memorandum of Understanding, endorsed at the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, and said the country is exploring a bilateral power link with Malaysia.

“We would like to explore the possibility of connecting the Philippines to Malaysia, and in doing so, to the rest of the region,” Garin said. “This will take technical, financial, legal, and policy groundwork, but the building blocks are already being laid.”

Garin noted that regional integration goes beyond building infrastructure, stressing the need for policies, financing, and governance frameworks that can reduce risks for renewable investments and lower costs for consumers.

Phl’s strong investment climate

She pointed to the Philippines’ strong investment climate, ranked as the world’s second most attractive market for renewable energy, with over 21,000 megawatts awarded under the Green Energy Auction Program and 91 offshore wind contracts totaling 69 gigawatts.

On the sidelines of SIEW, Garin also reported the country’s people-centered approach, including the deployment of 10 Mobile Energy Systems to off-grid and typhoon-prone provinces to maintain power during disasters.

She met with European Union representatives to discuss workforce development and the possible replication of Denmark’s Green Energy Islands initiative, which aims to turn remote islands into self-sustaining, renewable-powered communities.