MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the possible effects of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, warning that complacency could put the country at a disadvantage.
"The message of President Marcos Jr. regarding our preparedness is appropriate and timely. The President wants us to be ready for any situation, especially since the current conditions in the Middle East have yet to end," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a statement.
"It is not the time to sleep soundly and do nothing, because we will be the ones who lose if the government becomes complacent," she added.
Citing Energy Secretary Sharon Garin’s statement, Castro said the government was adopting a whole-of-government approach, including closer monitoring and enforcement measures on fuel retailers.
She said that even before the President made the public announcement, he had already issued marching orders to prepare interventions aimed at easing the burden on the public.
"Hence, for the whole of government approach, including the monitoring and discipline of gas stations,” Castro added.
