Lawmakers urge Duterte to declare state of ‘economic emergency,’ call for special session

HIGHER PUMP PRICES Fuel prices are again increasing this week, prompting agriculture workers to seek help from the government. —FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte should declare a state of economic emergency, citing his moral obligation to address the looming fuel crisis, House ways and means committee chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Monday.

The suggestion came after members of the ad hoc House committee formed to tackle the rising oil prices agreed to recommend that a special session of Congress be called by the President.

Speaking to reporters after Monday’s committee meeting, Salceda said declaring a state of economic emergency will enable local government units to tap their calamity funds to address the impact of rising fuel prices.

“Ang pinaka mabilis diyan is for the President to declare a state of economic emergency arising from the fuel crisis and therefore to enable him to use the calamity fund or for local government units to use their calamity funds to provide relief to tricycle drivers, farmers, and fisherfolks,” Salceda said.

Salceda, who is among the presiding officers of the ad hoc committee meeting, said lawmakers agreed to ask Duterte to call for a special session of Congress.

‘Moral obligation’

“Consensus dito is to ask the President to call for a special session to tackle the fuel crisis,” he said.

Among the legislations to be tackled in the proposed special session is a bill seeking to suspend excise tax on oil products.

According to Salceda, the President should call for a special on March 15 if oil price is still above $100 per barrel.

“We need to draw a line on the sand. If by March 15, it is still above $100, the President should call for a special session. It is his moral obligation to the people to provide relief because that means almost 75 days of suffering already,” he said.

“So without relief, any form of relief from gov’t, so I think it’s his moral obligation already to call for a special session,” Salceda added.

House economic affairs committee chairperson Rep. Sharon Garin, for her part, said the review of the oil deregulation law earlier called for by Malacañang can also be discussed if the President calls a special session.

“If we do ask for a special session, we will include that as one of the legislations to be also tackled,” she said.

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