MANILA, Philippines — Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national energy emergency as tensions in the Middle East threaten global fuel supply and prices.
The declaration, issued through Executive Order No. 110, comes amid concerns over potential disruptions to the country’s energy stability, despite earlier statements from Malacañang that the Philippines was facing a “price disruption” rather than a full-blown oil crisis.
Under the order, the government will implement the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), a whole-of-government response framework aimed at ensuring stable energy supply, uninterrupted essential services, and continued economic activity.
The UPLIFT committee, chaired by Marcos, will include key Cabinet officials such as the heads of the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Finance, and Department of Budget and Management, among others. The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development will serve as the secretariat.
The committee is tasked with overseeing the supply and distribution of fuel and other essential goods, ensuring the continued operation of public transportation and critical services, and protecting vulnerable sectors from the effects of rising energy costs.
The Department of Energy has been directed to implement measures to maintain adequate fuel supply, including energy conservation initiatives and actions against hoarding and profiteering. It may also tap the Philippine National Oil Company and its subsidiaries to help stabilize the domestic energy market.
Other agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Philippine National Police, have been instructed to carry out measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis, while local government units and the private sector are urged to support implementation efforts.
The energy emergency will remain in effect for one year unless lifted or extended by the president.
