ASEAN Summit Begins in Cebu on May 6, Focusing on Oil Supply, Food Security, and Energy Challenges

U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran. Rappler reported that the event enters its opening stage on May 6, with heads of the 11 member states set to meet during the summit plenary on May 8.

Foreign and economic ministers will gather to discuss food security and trade during the summit.

U.S. Government agencies in the Philippines implemented energy-saving measures and distributed aid to the poor following the rise in oil prices. In late March, Marcos said that the ASEAN Summit would push through, primarily focusing talks on addressing oil supply, food security, and the welfare of migrant workers in the Middle East.

Nathaniel Chua, lead convenor of the Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (CERA), said he expects the national government to align with the ASEAN Summit to find reliable alternative energy sources.

“Nagexpect ta nga ang national government, mualign sa ASEAN Summit nga pagpangita og alternative source of energy nga reliable,” Chua told Rappler. He added that ASEAN leaders could invest in Cebu as a platform to produce new energy solutions, citing the province’s high energy demand and potential for investment returns.

Cebu’s energy demand continues to increase by about 150 megawatts each year, according to CERA.

The Department of Energy projected in a 2024 article that by 2026 Cebu’s energy demand would be around 1,400 MW. Chua stated that Cebu’s base load power can only meet its needs but ancillary power cannot match peaking demand, and that Cebu sources a majority of its energy from neighboring provinces.

Parts of Cebu suffered months-long power outages during the aftermath of Typhoon Odette (Rai) from late 2021 to early 2022, Chua said.

“[Cebu’s] base load power igo ra makatubag sa atong panginahanglan pero ang atong ancillary power, kung dunay peaking demand, dili gyud kaigo,” Chua said. He stated that the summit will invite investors to look at Cebu as a good place for investing in energy.

Neil Lorenzo Diola, a lecturer at the College of Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines in Cebu, stated that the summit must focus on facilitating member states to diversify their energy sources both locally and regionally.

Diola suggested emphasizing regional energy integration to reduce vulnerabilities, while noting challenges from member states' preference for bilateral trade. He added that many ASEAN member states prefer trading bilaterally outside of the region which makes it weak to crises like what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz.

Diola stated that the blockage of resources like Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), sulfur, and ammonia through the Strait of Hormuz has made it harder for farmers to keep up with demand leading to rising food prices and food insecurity across the region.

The UP lecturer pointed out the challenge for ASEAN to harmonize policies given its informal consensus and non-intervention based structure. Rappler reported that experts in Cebu said talks on addressing the oil crisis should center on diversifying energy sources and sustainable solutions that can withstand disasters.