Tokyo: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday welcomed Japan's USD10-billion Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia) initiative aimed at boosting regional energy security and resilience amid global supply uncertainties triggered by tensions in the Middle East.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos discussed the initiative during his meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, currently the Supreme Adviser to the Parliamentary Association of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), on the sidelines of his state visit to Japan. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the meeting focused on strengthening Philippines-Japan cooperation on renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, and long-term energy security under the AZEC framework.

The President welcomed Japan's POWERR Asia initiative, which seeks to strengthen regional energy procurement, diversification, stockpiling capacity, and energy efficiency investments across Asia. The initiative comes amid heightened concerns over global energy supply disruptions linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East, a region critical to global oil supply chains.

Marcos has repeatedly called for greater international cooperation to cushion the impact of geopolitical conflicts on energy prices, supply stability, and economic growth. The President also expressed the Philippines' readiness to co-chair the AZEC Leaders' Summit in Manila in November 2026 together with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as part of the country's ASEAN chairmanship.

Japan remains among the Philippines' key partners in energy transition, infrastructure, and climate-related investments.