Amid skyrocketing fuel prices, lawmaker urges gov’t to ensure swift release of subsidy

National

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the Philippine government to expedite the release of fuel subsidies in response to escalating global oil prices driven by rising tensions between Israel and Iran.

Although the Philippines primarily imports oil from Saudi Arabia, Gatchalian emphasized that the country remains vulnerable to international market volatility, particularly due to potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Almost 99 percent of our oil is imported. So, if international prices increase, we will feel that,” he stated in a radio interview.

In a report by Philippine Star, the senator highlighted that the 2025 General Appropriations Act allocates P2.5 billion in fuel subsidies for sectors most affected by fuel price hikes, including public transport drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk.

These funds may be released once the average price of crude oil exceeds $80 per barrel—a threshold that has already been surpassed multiple times.

Gatchalian urged the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to intensify price monitoring efforts and ensure timely intervention.

He also recommended the immediate reactivation of the Pantawid Pasada Program, noting that many public transport drivers have already received subsidy cards.

He proposed expanding the program’s coverage to include tricycle drivers, who are equally impacted by fuel cost increases.

Addressing public calls for tax relief, Gatchalian clarified that suspending excise and value-added taxes on fuel would require legislative action, as the President lacks the authority to unilaterally halt tax collections.

On foreign policy, the senator advised the government to consider mandatory repatriation for Filipino workers in Iran due to the country’s limited infrastructure and growing instability.

He deemed voluntary repatriation sufficient for Filipinos in Israel, where conditions remain more stable.(Rey Niño Puso, PIT Comm Intern)