SEN. Christopher "Bong" Go urged lawmakers to fast-track deliberations on his proposed fuel relief measure, warning that the government must be ready with stronger interventions as rising oil prices continue to burden Filipino families.
Speaking during the April 13 hearing of the Senate committee on Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (Protect), Go highlighted Senate Bill (SB) 2033, or the proposed Fuel Crisis Immediate Relief and Response Bill, as a framework that can be activated if the situation worsens.
He noted that the Senate stands prepared to pass emergency legislation similar to Bayanihan 1 and 2 enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizing that the bill was filed in advance to ensure Congress is not caught off guard.
At the center of the proposal are targeted relief measures to ease the financial pressure on households, including the temporary suspension of mandatory contributions and the deferment of utility payments.
Go pointed out that the measure seeks to pause collections from agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS) and revisit unresolved issues, including the suspension of the PhilHealth premium increase, which he said was not approved by the previous Congress.
According to the senator, temporarily halting or delaying these obligations would provide immediate financial relief to workers and families grappling with higher fuel costs. The bill also proposes postponing payments for essential services such as electricity and water, allowing households greater flexibility in managing their expenses.
He said these interventions are modeled after pandemic-era policies that helped cushion the economic impact on Filipinos, stressing that while the current fuel situation is different, the goal remains to reduce immediate financial strain while long-term solutions are pursued.
Go also reiterated that the Senate is ready to act swiftly should the executive branch seek additional authority to roll out broader relief measures, positioning his proposal as a standby mechanism to support Filipinos during periods of economic pressure.
