A Davao Oriental congressman wants the government to study whether cutting mall operating hours could help cushion the Philippines from rising energy costs tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
House Resolution 893, filed by 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Almario and received on March 17, calls on the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Energy to jointly assess the feasibility of reducing mall operating hours as an energy conservation measure. Local government units would also be part of that study.
Almario pointed to shopping malls as among the heaviest electricity consumers in the country, citing their reliance on air-conditioning, lighting, escalators, and other power-intensive equipment. A modest reduction in daily hours, he argued, could produce meaningful results.
“Reducing operating hours even by two to three hours daily could significantly lower electricity consumption, reduce operational expenses for businesses, and contribute to national energy conservation efforts,” Almario said.
The resolution frames the proposal as a preemptive response to geopolitical risk rather than a reaction to a crisis already underway. Almario cited the volatility in oil-producing regions as a reason for the Philippines to act before fuel price shocks fully reach consumers.
“We cannot wait until the full impact reaches Filipino consumers. Proactive conservation measures can help soften the blow of rising fuel costs,” he said.
The resolution text describes the rationale in broader terms: “Considering the energy volatility due to ongoing [Middle East] tensions, there is a need to pursue [collaborative efforts] in the energy conservation and sustainable consumption.”
No timeline has been set for when the two agencies are expected to complete or submit findings from the study.
