Philippines steps up security to shield power grid from foreign control

MANILA, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The Philippines is beefing up
security protocols to protect its energy sector from foreign
interference, its national security adviser said, following
concerns raised by some of the country's politicians about
China's access to the country's power grid.
China's State Grid Corporation owns a 40% share in a
consortium called the National Grid Corporation of the
Philippines, which in 2008 won a 25-year-franchise.
"Allegations that the National Grid can easily be controlled
by foreign entities are being taken seriously by the
government," National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said
in a Feb. 2 statement on Monday.
Esperon's statement, which did not name any foreign entity
in particular, comes as the Philippine senate started an
investigation into China's access to country's power grid.
Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution late last year
calling for the probe, warning of Chinese-engineered power and
internet outages and interference in elections if safeguards
remained absent. Beijing and U.S. ally Manila have a long history of
mistrust, despite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's pursuit
of warmer ties with China.
China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a
request for comment. There are no publicly known instances in
the Philippines, or government accusations, of Chinese
interference in its utilities.
Esperon said a cyber-security audit team, which includes
officials from the National Security Council and the country's
armed forces, looked at various sites around the country and
recommended that periodic cyber-security assessments be done to
"ensure that our power grids are safe from foreign
manipulation".
Concern about China's involvement in the power grid was
first raised in November during the energy department's 2020
budget hearing in the Senate.
"The administration is taking steps and precautionary
measures to guarantee that the National Grid Corporation of the
Philippines, its facilities and infrastructure are protected
with the highest security procedures," Esperon said.