President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to enhance regional cooperation towards boosting the region’s strategic industrial metals and minerals value chain to ensure a cleaner energy future.

“The Philippines will take bold steps to transition to renewable and alternative energy technologies in a secure and sustainable manner,” President Marcos said in his intervention during the 42nd ASEAN Summit Plenary session.

“Recognizing that a cleaner energy future is anchored on the supply of critical minerals, ASEAN should now start enhancing regional cooperation towards boosting the region’s strategic industrial metals and minerals value chain,” he said.

The minerals industry value-chain represents the stages and processes that a minerals project goes through to produce mineral products, with each stage representing a value-add on the previous.

Among the major stages of minerals industry value-chain include geoscience, exploration, project development, mining, and minerals processing.

The President also called in his intervention for ASEAN unity in urging developed countries to fulfill their longstanding commitments to the Paris Agreement, and upholding international law and the international rules-based system,

He also wants the regional bloc to demonstrate its commitment to the principles of free trade and to the multilateral trading system. (PND)