Lawmakers at the House of Representatives of the Philippines are being urged to expedite deliberations on a proposed measure designed to cushion Filipinos from volatile energy costs. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, who serves as Majority Leader and represents Ilocos Norte’s 1st District, called for immediate action as Congress resumes session.
“This is about protecting every Filipino — from the poorest families, to the middle class, to small business owners trying to stay afloat,” Marcos said in a statement.
The proposal, formally filed as House Bill 8834, was authored by Marcos together with Faustino Dy III. It lays out a framework for activating a government response program intended to mitigate the impact of fuel price spikes and supply disruptions.
Marcos signaled that a committee report on the measure is expected to move forward when lawmakers reconvene, adding urgency to its passage. “We are pushing to move this forward as quickly as possible so we can put real protection in place,” he said.
The bill identifies several conditions that could trigger the rollout or expansion of the proposed Kalinga Program. These include sharp movements in global oil benchmarks such as Dubai crude, persistent domestic fuel price hikes reaching at least 30 percent within a month, and inflation levels deemed extraordinary by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. It also covers scenarios involving critically low fuel reserves or supply disruptions, as assessed by the Department of Energy, as well as the declaration of a national energy emergency.
In addition to defining trigger points, the measure outlines a range of interventions, including stabilizing fuel costs, strengthening supply management, providing targeted aid, supporting logistics and essential goods, assisting micro and small enterprises, and promoting energy conservation alongside flexible fiscal responses.
