Joint Declaration of Intent Concerning Energy and Natural Resources Cooperation between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy of the Republic of the Philippines and the Department of Natural Resources of Canada
As signed 30 June 2026
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy of the Republic of the Philippines, and the Department of Natural Resources of Canada, referred to as “Sides”, individually referred to as a “Side”,
Recognizing the importance of energy security, economic security, sustainable economic growth and resilient supply chains;
Recognizing the role of responsible natural resource development in supporting economic prosperity and the global energy transition;
Recognizing the strategic importance of responsible mining practices development in supporting clean energy technologies, industrial development, national competitiveness, and resilient global supply chains;
Building on the growing partnership between the Philippines and Canada, including through regional and international bilateral engagements on energy and natural resources matters;
Desiring to promote and strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy and natural resources based on the principles of collaboration, equality and mutual benefit;
Conscious of their shared desire to promote and strengthen future cooperation in the energy sector with focus on energy security, and the natural resources sector, including geoscience, mineral exploration, responsible mining practices and resilient, sustainable, and responsible supply chains in enabling clean energy technologies, electrification, and energy-transition pathways,
Have declared their intent to:
- Collaborate in future engagements in the fields of energy and natural resources via an annual Energy and Natural Resource Dialogue, based on the principles of collaboration, equality, and mutual benefit, with the view of ensuring secure, resilient, sustainable, and responsible supply chains in the Philippines, Canada, and in the Indo-Pacific; including cooperation, where mutually determined, in responsible mining practices, geoscience, and related natural resource initiatives.
- Strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, nuclear fuels, with a view to supporting the Philippines’ needs and priorities in the civil nuclear sector and identifying areas of mutually beneficial engagement with Canada’s nuclear energy ecosystem. This could include engagement in areas of interest related to Canadian nuclear technologies and capabilities, as well as sharing experience in nuclear financing frameworks and investment pathways, capacity building, and related regulatory and technical matters.
- Share best practices regarding Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ participation, partnership, benefits-sharing mechanisms, knowledge, and meaningful engagement in the mining and minerals sector, as well as the sustainable socio-economic contributions of responsible mining to the local communities;
- Share information and best practices on impact assessment, governance frameworks, and regulatory approaches, geological and mineral resource assessment, permitting systems, and other measures that support responsible natural resources development; and
- Share best practices on environmental stewardship, mine rehabilitation and closure, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and nature-positive resource development;
This Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) does not create any legal rights or obligations, and its provisions will not be construed as creating commitments, which may not be consistent with the intended nature of this instrument. Any intentions set out in this JDI are not legally binding and will not create enforceable rights or obligations under domestic or international law.
The Philippines’ Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources, and of Energy, and Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources will lead the work on this JDI, and coordinate policies to support these shared priorities.
Signed in duplicate on 2 July 2026, in English and French, each version being equally valid.