MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially declared a state of national energy emergency through Executive Order No. 110, issued on the evening of Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The declaration is a direct response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has caused unprecedented disruptions in global oil supplies and significant price volatility in the domestic market.
The emergency status is designed to streamline the government’s response to the energy crisis and provide the executive branch with expanded powers to manage resources. Key objectives include:
- Securing Energy Supply: Ensuring that the country maintains sufficient reserves of petroleum products and electricity despite international supply chain constraints.
- Price Stabilization: Granting the government more flexibility to implement measures that mitigate the impact of record-high fuel prices on the transport and agricultural sectors.
- Expedited Procurement: Allowing for faster negotiations and acquisitions of energy resources from international partners.
The declaration follows several weeks of economic turbulence in the Philippines:
- Fuel Price Shocks: Diesel prices have reached historic highs of nearly ₱150 per liter in some areas, while gasoline and kerosene have also seen double-digit increases.
- Currency Weakness: The Philippine peso recently hit a record low of ₱60.30 against the US dollar, making energy imports more expensive.
- Global Volatility: Continued tensions in the Middle East have disrupted key maritime routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Under a state of national energy emergency, various government agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Finance (DOF), are expected to coordinate on immediate relief measures. This may include the long-awaited suspension of fuel excise taxes, which the President had previously certified as urgent.
Additionally, the declaration may activate specific provisions of the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act, potentially allowing for temporary government intervention in the operations of energy entities if necessary to protect the public interest.
Officials are urging the public to avoid “fear-mongering” and panic-buying, assuring that the primary goal of EO 110 is to ensure stability and continuity in the nation’s energy infrastructure.