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MANILA, Philippines — The Senate and the House of Representatives are closely coordinating with Malacañang over ways to expedite the passage of a measure suspending the excise tax on fuel amid the escalating Middle East crisis.
“Since this weekend, we have been in constant coordination with the Office of the Executive Secretary regarding the bills needed to suspend the implementation of excise tax on fuel and the bill allowing the importation of biofuel to address the effects of the surge in fuel prices,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday said.
The Senate will also discuss President Marcos’ call to be given special power to suspend or reduce the fuel excise tax.
“We’ll prepare for it. We in the Senate, whatever help we can offer to the executive department, we will do our best,” Sotto said.
Speaker Faustino Dy III, for his part, also revealed discussions with the executive department regarding emergency powers for Marcos.
“We recognize that this is a challenge we must face head-on, which is why the House will work with the executive to focus on measures that will help cushion the effects of rising oil prices on the various sectors of our economy – especially our workers, commuters, farmers and small businesses,” Dy said.
In New York last Sunday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told the Philippine media covering President Marcos’ working visit that the Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing to formally request Congress to grant the President special powers to reduce excise tax on fuel products.
Sotto, meanwhile, also raised alarm over reports that some gas stations are already jacking up prices of fuel to take advantage of the crisis.
“Authorities should look into these players who are abusing it already,” Sotto said.
Castro also said the DOE has issued show-cause orders to 54 gasoline stations following reports of premature fuel price hikes.
Castro warned companies engaged in “fraudulent acts” may lose their business permits or face charges.
The bills on fuel excise tax suspension would be forwarded to the Senate ways and means, finance and energy committees for a hearing beginning tomorrow.
Dy, who represents the sixth district of Isabela, said the conflict in the Middle East has shown how developments abroad can directly affect the Philippines.
He said it is only natural for people to feel fear and concern when oil prices rise, as this drives up transportation fares, as well as the costs of food and other basic necessities. “We will bear the brunt of all these – workers, parents working to feed their families and every Filipino trying to make a decent living,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Dy assured the public that Congress remains committed to safeguarding the welfare of Filipinos. He said the House will focus on policies that strengthen the economy and protect the livelihoods of ordinary Filipinos.
“We will focus our efforts on laws and regulations that will further strengthen our economy, protect our livelihoods and give relief, most especially to our heavily burdened kababayans, particularly those who have been caught in the crossfire and are now in harm’s way,” he said.
“We have confronted challenging moments before and each time the strength and unity of the Filipino people have carried us through,” he added.
Dy assured the public that government institutions will continue working to protect Filipinos and guide the country through global challenges.
Fast track hearings
The House ways and means committee vowed to expedite deliberations on proposals to suspend the collection of excise taxes on fuel.
“We have to fast-track this. We’re waiting for the presidential certification so we can actually approve it as soon as possible,” committee chairman Rep. Miro Quimbo said, referring to President Marcos’ request.
The panel will deliberate on the request at a full hearing tomorrow. The Quimbo panel was briefed yesterday by officials of key government agencies on the economic, fiscal and supply implications of rising petroleum prices as hostilities in the Middle East continue.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, at a press conference, said she is pushing for the immediate passage of a P52.8-billion emergency supplemental budget to shield the country’s most vulnerable sectors from the economic shockwaves of the Middle East conflict.
Hontiveros emphasized that the government must abandon a “piecemeal” approach to the crisis, saying a competitive financial package is needed to support overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) trapped in conflict zones, as well as public transport drivers and farmers.
“Our call now is simple and not piecemeal. We need to discuss, prepare and pass an emergency supplemental budget package which, based on my office’s estimate, can reach P52.8 billion,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.
The amount is divided into P38 billion for OFW evacuation, P12 billion for fuel subsidies and P2.8 billion to support farmers and fisherfolk against soaring fertilizer and crude costs.
To fund the emergency measure, Hontiveros identified several massive government allocations that could be tapped immediately. These include P70 billion from discontinued 2025 flood control projects, P17.5 billion allocated for the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 hosting duties and implementing a “phased obligation” or staggered release of funds for big-ticket infrastructure projects.
“It’s not true that we don’t have a source. We have, and we only need to discuss, think and act immediately,” Hontiveros stressed. - Helen Flores, Rhodina Villanueva
