Marcos seeks South Korea's cooperation on renewable energy

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has sought the enhanced cooperation of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on renewable energy sources.

In his intervention at the 23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Republic of Korea Summit, Marcos Jr. told his fellow leaders that part of healing the environment is lessening the dependence on fossil fuels.

“Given the ROK’s expertise in harnessing renewable energies, let us explore opportunities for technological cooperation aimed at securing reliable electricity supply sourced from renewable sources,” he said.

Marcos said nations should also put focus on territorial biodiversity, adding the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity in the Philippines leads the ASEAN Green Initiative to plant 10 million native trees in 10 years, across all the ten member-states of the regional bloc.

“Let us be close partners in this project,” he said.

He also mentioned the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action for 2021-2025 during his intervention or the cooperation on safety and security, search and rescue, freedom of navigation and overflight, the exercise of self-restraint, non-use of force and peaceful resolution of disputes, unimpeded lawful commerce, the protection and conservation of the marine environment and sustainability of oceans.

Marcos said marine resources must be allowed to thrive and replenish themselves as part of sustainable oceans and fisheries management.

Further, he said he is looking forward to the Philippines’ participation as ministers and senior officials work together to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to ensure that significant ocean resources will still be available for the following generations.

On Wednesday, Marcos greenlighted the plan of the Department of Energy (DOE) to explore and develop the country's offshore wind potential as a source of sustainable energy.—LDF, GMA Integrated News