Manila: All systems go at the House of Representatives for a high-level joint hearing on Wednesday, as 13 key committees convene in a coordinated push to fast-track measures to ease rising fuel costs for Filipinos and deliver both immediate and long-term solutions.
According to Philippines News Agency, the hearing, set at 9:30 a.m. at the People's Center Building, will be facilitated by Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. This marks the first formal session of the expanded panel tasked to craft a unified legislative response to the global fuel shock triggered by the escalating Middle East conflict.
Also joining the hearing are the chairpersons of 12 other committees leading the House response: Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez (Energy), Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga (Agriculture and Food), Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing (Appropriations), Camarines Sur Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony 'Hori' Horibata (Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources), Antique Rep. Antonio Legarda Jr. (Economic Affairs), Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas (Foreign Affairs), Camarines Sur Rep. Miguel Luis Villafuerte (Information and Communications Technology), Cavite Rep. Ramon 'Jolo' Revilla III (Labor and Employment), Agimat Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla (Overseas Workers Affairs), Davao Oriental Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario (Social Services), Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. (Trade and Industry), and Quezon City Rep. Franz Pumaren (Transportation).
Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III has instructed the committees to consolidate data, coordinate closely with the Executive branch, and develop concrete policy measures that address both immediate relief needs and long-term resilience.
The hearing will focus on the country's oil and energy supply situation amid tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as the broader economic impact, government response, and proposed courses of action.
A full slate of Cabinet officials, regulators, and economic managers has been invited to brief lawmakers and present policy options. Among those expected to attend are Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, and Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo.
Also invited are Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan, National Electrification Administration Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, and Philippine National Oil Company representative Ma. Cristina Sheila Cabaraban, and PNOC-Exploration Corporation official Adrian Ferdinand Sugay.
Revenue and fiscal officials expected to attend include Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza, Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, and National Treasurer Sharon Almanza.
Officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and National Tax Research Center are also set to attend, alongside representatives from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Quimbo earlier said the joint hearings aim to gather critical data and align the House's legislative response with the Executive's ongoing efforts, leading to measures that can be rolled out quickly to protect vulnerable sectors. He said the multi-committee body is also expected to explore targeted assistance, fiscal support, and structural reforms to reduce the country's exposure to global oil shocks.
