The Philippine government is open to expanding its imports of petroleum products from Russia as part of efforts to diversify the country’s energy sources and strengthen energy security.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is exploring additional options for fuel supply but emphasized that geopolitical considerations must be carefully assessed before entering into any long-term agreement.
The president made the statement following his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, where the two leaders discussed cooperation in the energy sector.
According to Marcos, no final agreement has been reached between the Philippines and Russia regarding long-term petroleum supply arrangements.
However, he said Russia has expressed its willingness to provide petroleum products to the Philippines.
Marcos explained that the Philippines began importing petroleum products from Russia during a period of supply disruptions linked to the crisis in the Middle East.
He noted that those purchases were made on an ad hoc or temporary basis and were not covered by any long-term framework or mechanism.
The president said the government now wants to establish a more organized system for importing oil from Russia as part of broader efforts to ensure a stable supply of energy resources.
According to Marcos, developing a more structured arrangement could provide the Philippines with an additional lifeline in the event of future supply disruptions affecting global energy markets.
The initiative is also aimed at increasing the country’s options for sourcing petroleum products and reducing dependence on a limited number of suppliers.
Despite the interest in expanding energy cooperation with Russia, Marcos stressed that geopolitical factors remain an important consideration before any long-term commitments are made.
Government officials have not yet announced specific details regarding potential agreements, volumes of imports, or timelines for implementation.
For now, discussions remain at the exploratory stage as the Philippines evaluates its energy needs and available supply options.
