KUALA LUMPUR: The Philippines will prioritise strengthening connectivity, accelerating digitalisation, and advancing the ASEAN Power Grid to meet the region’s growing energy demands when it assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr stated the Philippines, as the 48th ASEAN Chair, would continue building on ongoing efforts to enhance physical and digital connectivity.
He emphasised that connectivity is key to fulfilling the bloc’s ambition of becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy.
“When I talk about connectivity, I refer to both physical and digital connectivity,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
Marcos highlighted the importance of ASEAN examining digitalisation processes closely with the advent of artificial intelligence.
He described interconnectivity as equally crucial for the region’s development.
“The proposal of an ASEAN Power Grid, Electrical Grid, is important because the demands for electrical power are going to be enormous,” he explained.
Marcos noted that data centres being established across ASEAN are placing significant pressure on power supply systems.
He identified these proposed efforts as critical initiatives as the region braces for surging electricity demand driven by data centres and AI computing power.
“The demands on power generation are going to be quite big, and we have to prepare for that,” he stated.
Marcos stressed that ASEAN must remain agile and adaptable to keep pace with rapid technological change.
“Technology is moving so quickly that we cannot simply make a plan and stick to it,” he said.
He added that ASEAN must be ready to adjust quickly when new developments arise.
According to the ASEAN Centre for Energy website, the ASEAN Power Grid was established under ASEAN Vision 2020 adopted at the Second ASEAN Informal Summit in Kuala Lumpur on December 15, 1997.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently called on AZEC members to strengthen technical and financial collaboration to accelerate ASEAN Power Grid integration.
Anwar said the ASEAN Power Grid is a key pillar in the region’s efforts to achieve long-term energy security and climate ambitions.
He noted that the grid complements Malaysia’s national initiatives towards a low-carbon future.
The Asia Zero Emission Community was launched in 2023 and currently comprises 11 partner countries.
These countries include the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Malaysia officially handed over the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Philippines on Tuesday. – Bernama