Energy security key to US-Philippine collaboration

FOCUSING on energy security, the United States Embassy in the Philippines gathered around 25 journalists nationwide for the two-day 16th US Embassy Media Seminar in Iloilo City on July 8 to 9.

In her message, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said the seminar is one of their mission's premier programs to support free and independent journalism in the Philippines.

She said it was particularly significant «in a year of consequence for US-Philippine relations marked by consecutive high-level engagements and high-impact commitments that significantly contribute to our shared prosperity.»

She said the US and Philippine governments have been working hard to tackle their shared challenges, citing the launch of the US government-sponsored Luzon Economic Corridor, the first-of-its-kind Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines; and the recently forged partnerships at the recent Indo-Pacific Business Forum.

Carlson said energy security is one key issue that has featured in all of their major engagements, highlighted during the two-day seminar by experts sharing their knowledge. She cited Philippine Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez, saying that «energy security is fundamental to economic prosperity and national security.»

The ambassador mentioned the similar difficulties that the US and the Philippines face, hampering economic growth: «high energy costs, concerns about grid reliability and connectivity, and broader challenges in the transition to renewable and clean energy.» She mentioned the responsibility of the journalists to educate the public on technical subjects like energy: «It also falls on you to hold us responsible when we fail to live up to our word.»

The US Embassy regularly holds media seminars and provides tools that a free and independent press needs to be supported amid the growing challenges to the industry.

Clean energy investments

Carlson also noted that under the Biden-Harris administration's Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, the US is making historic investments to modernize America's electric grid and accelerate the clean energy transition.

«As a result, we are better positioned to achieve our 1.5 degrees