Manila, 25 August 2026: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe met with Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines to discuss ASEAN economic resilience, regional energy security, and priority areas for co-operation under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on ERIA’s ongoing support for evidence-based policymaking in ASEAN, particularly in economic integration, competitiveness, energy security, and sustainable growth.

A key focus was the ASEAN joint oil stockpiling initiative. President Watanabe shared updates on ERIA’s ASEAN Oil Stockpiling Study, including recent discussions on moving from conceptual analysis towards practical implementation through a minimum viable pilot that could make use of existing infrastructure.

ERIA also briefed Secretary Roque on the High-Level Roundtable on ASEAN Joint Oil Stockpiling and Energy Resilience, convened by ERIA and the Indonesia Business Council in Singapore on 30 July 2026. The roundtable brought together public- and private-sector representatives, including energy companies, storage and terminal operators, logistics firms, traders, investors, and regional institutions, to explore practical approaches to strengthening ASEAN’s energy resilience.

The discussions underscored the importance of strengthening ASEAN’s preparedness for future energy supply shocks. For the Philippines, as a major net energy importer and ASEAN Chair, regional mechanisms for co-ordinated responses to disruptions are an important component of broader economic security.

President Watanabe also provided updates on the proposed Manila Energy Initiative and related ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration. The draft documents have been submitted to the Philippine Department of Energy and are scheduled for broader circulation following clearance from the Chair of the Senior Officials Meeting on Energy.

The ERIA–DTI meeting also covered ERIA’s support for the Philippines’ Priority Economic Deliverables, including the ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap 2026–2030 and the Critical Minerals agenda.

ERIA noted that the semiconductor roadmap aims to foster a more integrated ASEAN semiconductor ecosystem, enabling member states to build on their respective competitive advantages while strengthening regional capabilities in talent, technology, infrastructure, supply chains, and strategic investment.

On critical minerals, ERIA underscored the importance of developing stronger regional value chains spanning processing, refining, advanced materials, and recycling. Strengthening these capabilities will be important to ASEAN’s ambitions in semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, and clean energy industries.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of practical, evidence-based initiatives that can strengthen ASEAN’s resilience, competitiveness, and sustainable growth. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued co-operation in support of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship priorities and longer-term regional economic integration.