Senate readies Bayanihan 3 bill

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April 10, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is preparing to file a bill for Bayanihan 3 in case the Middle East conflict worsens despite US President Donald Trump’s two-week ceasefire with Iran, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Speaking to dzBB yesterday, Gatchalian said the situation remains unstable, with Trump announcing a ceasefire only for it to be dampened by reports of Iran planning to close the Strait of Hormuz or requiring tolls for oil ship passage.

A possible third Bayanihan law is under study to brace the country for impact of the volatile situation, Gatchalian said of the bill filed by Sen. Loren Legarda.

“This is just for preparation. There is no definite direction yet but we are preparing in case there is a need for Bayanihan 3. We are studying if it will be needed,” said Gatchalian, who is also Senate ways and means committee chair.

“The situation now is changing because of the two-week ceasefire. So at least we have room to breathe,” he added.

The proposed “Bayanihan 3: Power to the People” law seeks to empower the President to address the oil crisis by imposing temporary price controls, scrapping petroleum excise taxes, and even temporarily suspending the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel to stabilize domestic prices.

Gatchalian however cautioned against the blanket suspension or reduction of the VAT, saying it will only be passed on to the consumers and benefit the upper class who won’t be taxed for their luxuries.

He pushed for targeted subsidies instead to alleviate the plight of drivers, farmers and fisherfolk struggling with the rising fuel costs.

The two previous Bayanihan laws were passed during the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen the government’s health response and boost economic recovery.

Gatchalian said a third Bayanihan could need between P90 billion to P400 billion budget to implement its sweeping provisions, such as on helping millions of Filipinos in the Middle East after repatriation.

Farmers, fisherfolk may stop working

Farmers and fisherfolk on Wednesday told senators that they will soon stop tilling the land and going out to sea because of the rising costs of petroleum and fertilizer.

During a hearing by the Senate food and agriculture committee, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas secretary general Ronnie Manalo said the Middle East conflict is discouraging farmers from tending to their harvests.

“A number of our fellow farmers don’t want to plant anymore. They will just plant for their food. That will worsen our problems,” Manalo told the senators, as he opposed the importation of agricultural products.

Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura executive director Jason Cainglet added that up to half of fisherfolk surveyed in Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, and Pangasinan have refused to go out to sea already.

“Last month, we said that if there is no ayuda, in two weeks there may be no more fishing. Last week, before the third mega increase, 30 percent have not set out to fish,” Cainglet said.

“We surveyed from Cavite Bataan Zambales, Pangasinan, 30 percent have not fished. But this week, because of the increase last Tuesday, it’s almost 50 percent,” he said.