Calling the current energy order “toothless,” Senator Bam Aquino demanded a full national emergency declaration to shield Filipinos from skyrocketing oil prices and the imminent surge in the cost of basic goods.
During Thursday’s resumption of the Senate PROTECT(Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy) Committee hearing, Aquino grilled economic managers on the legal limitations of the current declaration.
“In a national emergency, pwede mag-trigger ang price ceiling. In a national energy emergency, hanggang monitoring lang tayo. Is that correct?,” he asked.
The senator’s argument lies in the legal “teeth” afforded by different emergency declarations. Under the current national energy emergency, government powers are largely restricted to monitoring and supply replenishment.
“So you need to call a full state of national emergency to have a price freeze at hindi yun ang tinawag natin. Ang tinawag natin, national energy emergency. Bago pa po nangyari yung gera, pakiramdam na ng maraming tao, mataas na yung presyo ng bilihin. Suddenly, in one month’s time, ang laki ng tinaas ng presyo ng diesel at gasolina,” Aquino said.
Aquino stressed that while the Energy EO helps private companies replenish fuel supply, it does nothing to stop the “domino effect” on basic goods.
“Personally, palagay ko po at palagay siguro ng marami ko sa amin, kulang pa dahil ang hinahanap rin ng taong bayan, hindi magtuloy-tuloy yung pagtaas ng presyo sa mga palengke, sa supermarket, sa grocery,” he explained.
Aquino outlined three critical reasons why a broader declaration is the only way to protect Filipino families.
Without a full national emergency, the government cannot legally mandate a price ceiling on essential goods like chicken and pork, which the Department of Agriculture warns could spike by P100 due to the oil crisis.
The senator raised concerns that EO 110 is unclear on whether Local Government Units (LGUs) can tap into their Quick Response Funds (QRF) to provide immediate relief to their constituents.
And lastly, Aquino called for a “consolidated approach” to manage the P230 billion in available government funds. He warned against fragmented efforts where aid might double for some while leaving others off the list entirely.
He expressed frustration with the “business-as-usual” pace of government agencies while the Middle East conflict continues to drive fuel prices toward P120 per liter.
Aquino noted that with fuel prices breaching P120 per liter, the crisis is no longer about “energy supply” but about “survival.”
While Congress passed a law allowing the President to suspend the excise tax on fuel, Aquino stressed that a National Emergency would allow for a more aggressive suspension of the 12% VAT on petroleum, which could instantly slash prices by P14 to P15.
He emphasized that the P230 billion budget must be unlocked immediately to shield the jeepney and tricycle drivers facing unplayable fuel costs, Small businesses at risk of closing due to overhead spikes and to ensure that public markets, hospitals and schools remain operational .
“Alam ko may kanya-kanya kayong mga responsibilidad, pondo at lahat, but we need to have a consolidated approach here. Pusibling nagdodoble yung tulong o pusibling akala natin nasa kabilang listahan, yun pala, yun pala, wala sa listahan. We need to have a consolidated approach,” he said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator Loren Legarda echoed the sentiment, noting that the declaration of an emergency is an “overdue recognition” of the crisis, but it only gains meaning if it leads to “swift, coordinated and wise use of government funds to help every Filipino households.
