Senator Win Gatchalian is pressing for the accelerated implementation of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), warning that renewed instability in the Middle East is exposing the region’s vulnerability to external energy shocks and potential supply disruptions.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Gatchalian said the Philippines, as host of this year’s ASEAN Summit, is in a strategic position to push energy security higher on the regional agenda and move toward the operationalization of long-standing cooperation mechanisms under APSA.

“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East highlights just how easily external shocks can compromise our energy supplies, threatening the economic growth of ASEAN member states,” said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate PROTECT ad hoc committee.

Signed in 2009, APSA is anchored on mutual assistance among ASEAN member states during energy supply emergencies, designed to stabilize petroleum availability across the region during disruptions.

A key feature of the agreement is the Coordinated Emergency Response Measures (CERM), under which ASEAN members are expected to extend petroleum supply support to any country experiencing a shortage equivalent to at least 10% of normal domestic demand for 30 consecutive days.

Gatchalian said the mechanism remains largely underutilized despite its potential relevance in today’s volatile global energy landscape, where geopolitical tensions continue to influence oil price movements and supply security.

“Bilang host ng ASEAN Summit ngayong taon, mayroon tayong plataporma para gawing buhay at aktibo ang matagal nang kasunduan na ito,” he added. (“As host of the ASEAN Summit this year, we have a platform to make this long-standing agreement active and operational.”)

How prepared is ASEAN to activate petroleum mutual aid mechanisms in an actual supply disruption, and what role should the Philippines take in ensuring APSA moves from agreement to operational reality?

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more news and updates on the Philippine energy sector.