The House ways and means committee, led by Rep. Miro Quimbo, convenes on Wednesday, April 8, to discuss a potential relief package amid the oil and energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict. Government agencies have been invited to brief lawmakers on fuel supply, economic impacts from the US war on Iran, and the government's response. The hearings aim to craft a Bayanihan 3 package for short-term relief and long-term resilience.
At the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, a high-level joint hearing of 13 House committees begins at 9:30 a.m. on April 8, led by the ways and means committee under Rep. Miro Quimbo. Speaker Faustino Dy III directed the panels to consolidate data, coordinate with the executive branch, and produce policy interventions for immediate relief and long-term resilience against the global fuel shock from US-Israel missile attacks on oil-rich Iran, as reported by Philstar.com.
A full slate of Cabinet officials and regulators are attending, including Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, NEDA chief Arsenio Balisacan, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, and Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo. Also invited are Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Francis Saturnino Juan, PNOC representatives, BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza, and officials from OWWA, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank.
Quimbo said the hearings will hammer out a Bayanihan 3 package for short-term aid to affected sectors and future-proofing plans, according to Rappler. Other lawmakers propose aid measures, fuel price caps, or VAT suspension on petroleum products.
Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago pushed back against opposition to fuel tax cuts, stating, “Reduction of taxes is not destroying the economy, but the continued imposition of taxes against the people while big corporations are raking in millions in profit.” Bills like House Bill 8616 by Rep. Brian Yamsuan and Senate Bill 2007 by Sen. Imee Marcos seek to unbundle pump prices and penalize hoarders.
