The Philippines is also engaged in energy cooperation activities of regional groupings among which are the APEC, ASEAN, and the ACD.

The Philippines supports the implementation of the APEC Energy Security Initiative (ESI), which aims to enhance the capacity of APEC economies in preparing for energy supply disruptions, facilitating energy investments, using energy in more efficient manner, expanding energy choices, and capitalizing on technical innovations. These strategies are implemented through different activities. Initially, the Philippines actively participates in the following initiatives:

The JODI is intended to improve accuracy, coverage, timeliness, and transparency in the global market by making improved data available to participants. The objective of the exercise is to create a standardized and publicly accessible database which includes as many economies as possible and as large portion of world oil supply and demand as possible.

The DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) is the designated Focal Point for JODI. The Bureau seeks to improve electronic data gathering and processing of monthly oil supply/demand data collection through the DOE Portal.

On June 21, 2005, the potential release date of the database was discussed in an inter-organization meeting at the IEA’s headquarters in Paris.

The real-time emergency information sharing system is an internet-based service which provides real-time communication in the form of a chat-room and data sharing in the form of bulletin board. The system also provides access to APEC Joint Oil Data. In February 2005, the DOE participated in the trial-run of the system.

The ASEAN has organized the Energy Security Forum in cooperation with China, Japan and Korea to work in formalizing a mechanism for regional consultation and coordination during periods of petroleum shortages and emergencies within the region. The Philippines is among the designated coordinating countries along with Myanmar and Japan. The forum is expected to promote information sharing through network and implement effective energy response measures/plans. It will likewise cooperate with the JODI of APEC.

ASEAN + 3 Initiatives

The ASEAN+3 energy cooperation on energy security done through individual or multilateral efforts aims to promote greater emergency preparedness, wider use of energy efficiency and conservation measures, diversification of types and sources of energy, and development of indigenous petroleum. It also addresses the need for effective dialogue and cooperation between ASEAN+3 and major energy producing countries both within and outside of the region.

In pursuit of these goals, a series of meetings/fora was undertaken to include the 1st Energy Security Forum and the 2nd Oil Stockpiling Forum held in Cebu, Philippines in February 2004. The Philippines is one of the coordinating countries for Energy Security Forum and Oil Stockpiling Forum. On the other hand, the Philippines also participated in the following activities: (1) 1st Natural Gas Forum in Shanghai, China; (2) 2nd Natural Gas Forum in Indonesia; (3) New and Renewable Energy Forum in Seoul, Korea; and, (4) 1st Oil Market Forum back to back with the 1st Oil Stockpiling Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Philippines, through the NPC and TransCo, continues to be involved in the Forum of the HAPUA by designating point persons and actively participating in the eight working groups identified by member-countries. These working groups are Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewable Energy and Environment, Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) Services, Resource Development, Power Reliability and Quality, and Human Resources. The Philippines currently is the designated focal point for Working Group No. 5 on ESI Services, which initially identified three cooperation projects: “Sharing of ASEAN ESI Development/Restructuring Program”, “Regional Energy Planning and Management”, and “Charges, Tariff Structure and Design for the Industry”.

New ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement

The Philippines initiated the review of the 1986 ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA) to address future exigencies. In concurrence, the 17th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) held in Thailand on July 1999 tasked the ASEAN Council of Petroleum (ASCOPE) to spearhead the review. The new APSA is set for endorsement to the 24th AMEM on July 27, 2006 in Lao PDR and for signing during the 12th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in December.

The participation of energy producers and energy consumers in the ACD makes it an ideal platform to balance the interests of both. Established in 2002, the Philippines is joined by Indonesia, China, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran as co-prime movers in the area of energy cooperation. Policy discussions have been undertaken several times on how ACD countries can cooperate with one another. The Joint Declaration of the ACD Energy Working Group, which was signed in Manila in 2003 contained pronouncements to pursue further cooperation in the various areas of energy- both at the policy and program levels. Despite the geographical diversity of the region in terms of resource endowment, member countries believe that these differences can serve as bases for forging strategic alliances and collaborative activities. On the other hand, the Qingdao Initiative on Energy endorsed during the Third ACD Ministerial Meeting in 2004 provided the framework on "follow-up actions for specific ways and areas of energy cooperation in Asia ".