SEN. Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday expressed support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a national energy emergency amid tension in the Middle East.
“I’m fully behind this decision, as it gives the president the flexibility to act swiftly to support the people during this crisis,” Tulfo said.
As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Tulfo emphasized that empowering the executive branch will speed up decision-making and ensure timely delivery of essential services, especially during emergencies where delays could worsen conditions for affected communities.
He said the declaration of a national energy emergency is a temporary measure designed to stabilize the energy sector. In line with this, he has also shown support for proposals to suspend fuel excise taxes if global crude oil prices reach alarming levels, aiming to cushion the financial impact on consumers.
Tulfo also called for an urgent recovery plan to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the conflict in the Middle East. He urged the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to extend support not just to Filipinos in conflict zones, but also to those whose deployment has been put on hold.
“Many of these Filipinos hail from the provinces. They have already invested money into processing their requirements in search of decent opportunities in the Middle East,” he said. To bridge this gap, Tulfo proposed utilizing the P2 billion Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan Fund to deliver immediate financial and psychological support.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also supported the declaration of a national energy emergency, describing the move as necessary to mitigate the impact of the war in the Middle East.
Gatchalian said the measure would enable the government to implement extraordinary interventions to cushion households and businesses from potential increases in fuel and electricity prices, amid volatility in global energy markets driven by geopolitical instability.
“The president’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency is a necessary step that enables the government to take extraordinary measures to cushion the impact of the Middle East war on Filipino households and the broader economy,” he said in a statement.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it supported the government in addressing the energy challenge and vowed to ensure the orderly implementation of regulations to maintain peace and security.
“Police forces nationwide are on heightened readiness to secure key installations, critical infrastructure, and communities. The PNP will monitor and address any activities that may disrupt public order, assuring the public of its full capability to protect every Filipino,” PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement. WITH IZEL ABANILLA
