Singapore and the Philippines have agreed to work together to accelerate the development of an ASEAN Power Grid, a long-envisioned plan to link the power grids of member-states to facilitate greater energy security and sustainable growth amid the escalating climate crisis.
At a joint press conference following his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 4, Singapore Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said that both countries agreed to step up efforts to realize the ASEAN Power Grid.
“This will improve energy resilience in the region, and support ASEAN’s green transition,” he said.
Noting that Singapore has consistently been one of the top investors in the Philippines, Wong said bilateral cooperation in sustainability and new technologies has started.
“Singapore companies are interested in renewable energy projects in the Philippines, including solar and wind projects,” he said.
“Such projects can generate economic opportunities for the Philippines while supporting the Philippines’ renewable energy targets,” he added.
Beyond energy, Singapore and the Philippines are strengthening collaboration on sustainability.
Last August, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on carbon credits cooperation — an important step that Wong said will soon be followed by a legally binding Implementation Agreement aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
“This will facilitate commercial participation in carbon credits projects, which can spur technology transfer, green investments, and create good jobs,” he said.
Wong said these efforts prove how the partnership aligns with Singapore’s broader strategy of institutionalizing its climate commitments and investing heavily in sustainability.
Singapore has been at the forefront of green finance and carbon trading in the region, launching initiatives like Climate Impact X, a global carbon exchange and marketplace, and stepping up its efforts to decarbonize key industries.
Digitalization, innovation, and healthcare
Wong also touched on expanding partnerships in digitalization and innovation — areas he said are critical to the future of ASEAN economies. He cited the National University of Singapore’s work with the Philippine Civil Service Commission to advance its digital transformation agenda as a concrete example of cooperation.
“We are already stepping up human resource development cooperation in various fields, including on digitalization,” he said.
Singapore’s Temasek Foundation is also actively supporting healthcare initiatives in the Philippines, including projects in Taguig City, and both countries’ health ministries are exploring broader cooperation — particularly in empowering Filipino healthcare workers in Singapore to upskill and eventually reintegrate into the Philippine healthcare system.
“I conveyed to the President Singapore’s appreciation for their invaluable contributions – especially the Filipino healthcare workers who stood with us during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“Singapore is committed to being a good second home for the Filipinos living and working in our country,” he added.
ASEAN unity
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN centrality and regional integration, particularly as the Philippines prepares to chair ASEAN next year, with Singapore following in 2027.
“We are both founding members of ASEAN. [We] share a common interest in preserving ASEAN centrality and unity. The Philippines can count on Singapore’s full support for its ASEAN Chairmanship,” he said.
“This will be critical in accelerating the integration of the region, and enabling us to unlock the full potential of ASEAN. It will also enable ASEAN to better engage our external partners like the GCC or the EU,” he added, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Middle East and the European Union.
GCC is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Veronica Uy
