MANILA, Philippines — Citing the need for policies that reflect the “lived realities” of ordinary Filipinos, FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list Rep. Brian Poe has called for a second, more inclusive hearing under the Super Committee on the Philippine Oil Crisis.
Poe emphasized that the current energy challenges—exacerbated by volatile global prices and regional conflict—require a “people’s hearing” where transport groups, stakeholders, and ordinary citizens can directly share their perspectives and recommendations.
The lawmaker outlined a three-pronged strategy to protect the Philippine economy from external oil shocks:
- Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Accelerating the development of national fuel reserves to act as a buffer during global supply disruptions.
- Energy Diversification: Shifting away from imported oil by expanding the use of renewable energy, alternative fuels, and indigenous energy sources.
- Oil Deregulation Law Review: A comprehensive assessment of Republic Act No. 8479. Poe questioned whether the law, designed to promote competition, still effectively protects consumers in the face of sustained price volatility.
Poe warned that the Philippines is at a “critical juncture” regarding its energy security. He stressed that crafting solutions in isolation from the public experience often leads to ineffective results.
“Policies should never be crafted in isolation from the people’s experience. Those most affected must be given the platform to share their situation,” Poe stated on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
The call for a second hearing comes as the country remains under a national energy emergency, with diesel prices in some areas reaching as high as ₱172 per liter following the outbreak of the Middle East war. Other government responses have included a shift to a four-day workweek for civil servants and cash handouts for transport workers.