US approves funds for modernization of Philippine power sector

MANILA, Philippines — The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has approved the release of funds that will support efforts for the modernization and buildout of electricity transmission and distribution networks in the Philippines.

Such support will be carried out by bringing a delegation of government officials and private sector utilities to the US to observe innovations and best practices in smart grid technologies.

The USTDA, which announced the grant at the 6th Indo-Pacific Business Forum held in Manila on Tuesday, said these innovations can help integrate renewable energy sources, increase service quality and resilience and reduce technical losses and costs.

At a digital press briefing, USTDA director Enoh Ebong said the USTDA intends to engage with the energy industry of the Philippines and is in fact already doing so.

“We have undertaken projects in the clean energy space in wind, in geothermal and exploring more all the time. Our conversations are continual as we try and scope projects where we can bring US innovation, technologies and goods and services to really enhance the goals and objectives – and accomplish them – of our partners,” she said.

US senior official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Matt Murray said that during the APEC Economic Leaders Week in November, the US and the Philippines signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement or the 123 Agreement, which supports expanded cooperation on zero-emission energy and on nonproliferation.

“And today at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum, we also welcomed the new partnership in this area held at an MOU signing between the US Agency for International Development and the Philippines’ Department of Energy to develop and implement a comprehensive civil nuclear energy policy. So, in that area as well, it’s really important to note some of the progress that we’re making with the Philippines,” Murray said.