President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday welcomed another batch of repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East, as part of the governmentโs continued efforts to bring home Filipinos affected by ongoing tensions in the region. (Photo Courtesy: Presidential Communication Office)
MANILA, Philippines โ Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national energy emergency, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East that threaten global oil supply and could disrupt the Philippinesโ fuel security.
In an executive order signed on Monday, Marcos said ongoing hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have heightened risks in a region crucial to global oil production and transport. The hostilities have triggered volatility in international oil prices and uncertainty in supply chains.
The order also cited the closure of the Strait of Hormuz โ a vital corridor for petroleum shipments โ as a major disruption to global fuel flows. The country is a net importer of petroleum. It remains highly vulnerable to such external shocks, the government said.
The declaration was issued under Republic Act No. 7638, which allows the president to act on the recommendation of the energy secretary in cases of critically low energy supply or imminent threats.
Whole-of-government response
To cushion the impact, the government will roll out a coordinated response under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), a framework meant to ensure energy stability, protect essential services, and support vulnerable sectors.
A UPLIFT committee, chaired by Marcos and composed of key Cabinet officials, will oversee the response, with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development serving as secretariat.
The Department of Energy has been ordered to lead measures to stabilize supply, including enforcing energy conservation, implementing fuel optimization plans, and cracking down on hoarding and profiteering. State-run firms Philippine National Oil Company and PNOC Exploration Corporation are also tasked to help secure fuel supply, including through procurement with flexible payment terms.
Subsidies, safeguards, and sectoral support
The Department of Transportation will roll out fuel and fare subsidies, expand the Libreng Sakay program, extend train operating hours, and study temporary cuts in tolls and aviation fees to ease costs for commuters.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is directed to fast-track aid under its crisis assistance programs and provide livelihood support to affected groups, including transport workers and displaced employees.
And the Department of Agriculture will ensure a stable food supply and support farmers and fisherfolk, while the Department of Migrant Workers has been tasked to prepare for the possible evacuation and repatriation of overseas Filipino workers affected by the conflict.
LGUs told: align with national measures, allocate resources
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry will monitor and act against excessive price increases on basic goods and assist small businesses.
Local government units have been urged to align with national measures and allocate resources to cushion the impact of potential fuel supply disruptions.
The Palace said the emergency declaration aims to ensure โthe stability of domestic energy supply, continuity of economic activity, and the welfare of all citizens,โ particularly as global oil markets face renewed uncertainty.
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