ASEAN open to suggestions on speeding up fuel security —Marcos 

Cebu, Philippines – President Ferdinand  Marcos Jr. said Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders are open to suggestions on how to speed up regional fuel-sharing and energy security mechanisms as the region grapples with the impact of the Middle East crisis.

During a press conference at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu on Friday, May8, Marcos acknowledged frustrations over the pace of operationalizing regional energy arrangements, but added that the leaders were already treating the matter with urgency.

“The understanding of everybody is that it is all ASAP. Everything is as soon as possible,” Marcos said.

“We needed it last month. Forget about next month, six months, a year from now. We needed it yesterday,” he added.

However, Marcos said ASEAN still needs to finalize the operational details of the proposed regional fuel reserve system and energy-sharing arrangements.

Among the unresolved issues are fuel storage, supply sharing, and priority recipients during shortages.

“Is it going to be in one single place? Is it going to be scattered all over ASEAN?” Marcos said.

“Who gets what? How do you pay for it? Do you pay for it? Is it an exchange? Do you do credit?” he added.

The president said ASEAN leaders unanimously agreed to accelerate the ratification of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security and the operationalization of the ASEAN Power Grid.

But he admitted that technical and logistical questions still need to be resolved.

Pressed on whether ASEAN could move faster before fuel supply conditions worsen further, Marcos said leaders remain willing to consider any workable proposal.

“Look, we’re open to suggestions. If you have a suggestion to make it faster, please tell us,” Marcos said.

“Because we are trying to examine everything we can do to make it immediate,” he added.

The president said ASEAN energy ministers have yet to fully lay out implementation timetables for the proposed initiatives.

“Our energy ministers haven’t yet met. So it’s impossible to say,” Marcos said. “But rest assured the minute we have it, we will inform you.”

Marcos said ASEAN members have been coordinating closely.

“When the war started in the Middle East, immediately everyone was scrambling to try and make sure that we have sufficient energy supply,” he said.

“We already were in very close coordination with our ASEAN partners, and we were discussing together where, how, what can we do to help one another,” he added.

ASEAN leaders on Thursday, May 7, adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Response to the Middle East Crisis, outlining coordinated regional measures on energy security, food supply stability, and economic resilience.