MANILA, Philippines — Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep. Robert Nazal is pushing for an automatic relief system similar to the Covid pandemic-era Bayanihan laws that would be activated upon the declaration of a national energy emergency to protect Filipino families, workers, and key sectors.
Under his House Bill 8821 or the “National Energy Emergency Relief and Protection Act," a standing legal framework would be created for ready-to-roll assistance, eliminating the need to craft emergency measures from scratch during every crisis.
Nazal said the country was already feeling the impact of volatile fuel prices due to the war in the Middle East, underscoring the need for automatic relief once a national energy emergency is declared.
“The Philippines is confronting an energy shock with immediate consequences for transport costs, food distribution, business operations, and household welfare,” Nazal said in his explanatory note.
The bill complements existing executive actions by providing a permanent statutory backbone for crisis response.
“This bill does not duplicate that executive action. It provides what only legislation can firmly establish: a standing statutory framework for automatic relief, market stabilization, logistics continuity, labor protection, and targeted public support during any declared national energy emergency,” he added.
Nazal's measure provides a comprehensive package of financial assistance, livelihood support, and cost-of-living protections for vulnerable households and workers.
It also proposes a P100-billion Energy Emergency Relief Fund and creates a multi-agency council to oversee implementation and ensure accountability.
Qualified low-income families under the bill will also receive emergency cash aid equivalent to at least two weeks of the regional minimum wage, along with targeted cash transfers and food support.
Displaced workers will be entitled to assistance equivalent to at least one month of the regional minimum wage, plus access to emergency employment, retraining, and livelihood programs.