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Neil Jayson Servallos - The Philippine Star
March 18, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate yesterday approved on third and final reading a measure granting President Marcos emergency powers to suspend or reduce the fuel excise tax.
The bill, which was certified urgent, was approved with 17 affirmative votes and no negative votes and abstentions.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said ways and means chairperson Sen. Pia Cayetano should get in touch with Rep. Miro Quimbo – her counterpart in the House of Representatives – to discuss which version should be adopted as the House had already approved its bill, also on third reading.
“Hopefully, the chairperson would be able to get in touch with her counterpart so we may be able to tackle this tomorrow, if they’re willing to adopt our version or if paper bicam’s possible,” Sotto said during session yesterday.
Sotto and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the bill needs to be ratified today, the last session day before the month-long congressional break.
“This passage is not just a victory for the government, but for all ordinary Filipinos, particularly our hardworking middle class, who have been most affected by this crisis and often lack adequate safety nets,” Quimbo said after the chamber’s approval of the measure.
During the plenary deliberations prior to the vote, lawmakers clarified that the public will not feel the immediate effects of the tax suspension once Marcos executes it after the law is enacted.
Once cuts are executed, oil companies must first deplete their existing inventories purchased under the taxed rates.
Cayetano admitted it could take 30 to 45 days for pump prices to reflect the tax suspension or sooner if current supplies are already depleted.
Once the old stocks are exhausted, the Department of Finance (DOF) estimates a price reduction of P11.2 per liter for gasoline and P6.72 per liter for diesel.
No national emergency
With the government saying it is on top of the situation, Malacañang yesterday turned down a proposal from the largest trade union in the country for President Marcos to be given power to declare a state of national emergency, as the country grapples with soaring oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict.
“Right now, we are not in that situation,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in Filipino at a press briefing in Cebu explaining Malacañang’s decision.
House Deputy Speaker and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza earlier urged President Marcos to enforce emergency powers under the oil deregulation law to temporarily take over the industry to stabilize oil prices.
Both houses of Congress, meanwhile, approved on third and final reading a measure granting President Marcos special powers to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes.
Mendoza said the President may invoke Section 14(e) of Republic Act 8479, or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998.
He cited a provision of the law which states: “In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the DOE may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any person or entity engaged in the Industry.”
Castro said the government, through Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin continues to talk with oil companies.
The President, she said, has also certified as urgent a measure allowing him to suspend or reduce the excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global emergencies.
Meanwhile, Castro appealed to the public to refrain from fear sowing fear.
“This only fuels fear among our countrymen even if the President and the government are in control of the situation,” she added. — Helen Flores, Jose Rodeo Clapano
