Lockdown unnecessary, to stall economy amid oil crisis, says solon
MANILA, Philippines — After Malacañang recently denied rumors of an energy lockdown, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian believes such a drastic measure is not necessary as it would adversely affect the economy.
Gatchalian, in a press briefing on Monday, said that many individuals will lose their jobs if a lockdown, just like during the the COVID-19 pandemic, is implemented by the government.
Instead, the concern should be on how the government can stretch its existing oil and fuel supply.
“I don’t advise na mag-lockdown tayo ala COVID-19 kasi hihinto ‘yong buong ekonomiya natin, maraming mawawalan ng trabaho. Ang kailangan lang naman natin mai-extend ‘yong number of days in terms of inventory,” Gatchalian told reporters.
(I don’t advise that we do a lockdown similar to COVID-19 because that would stop our entire economy, many people would lose their jobs. What we need is to extend the number of days in terms of fuel inventory.)
“Wala tayong problema sa trabaho, wala tayong problema sa health concern, ang problema natin pano natin mai-stretch or mapahaba natin ‘yong number of days in terms of inventory,” he added.
(We don’t have problems in terms of jobs, we do not have problems regarding health concerns, our problem is how to stretch or the number of days in terms of inventory.)
Malacañang last Friday debunked a circulating “announcement” supposedly from the Department of Energy (DOE) claiming there would be an energy lockdown starting April 20, 2026.
The fraudulent advisory urged the public to prepare power banks, solar equipment, candles, lamps, food, and other essentials in anticipation of the energy lockdown.
READ: Palace debunks ‘energy lockdown’ claim as fake news
Gatchalian said he has already proposed a rationing of fuel to ensure that the current 50 day supply for diesel and gasoline would be stretched out to as far as 80 to 90 days.
The proposal was contained in a set of recommendations he released after two hearings of the Senate’s proactive response and oversight for timely and effective crisis strategy (PROTECT) committee which he heads.
“Ang aking proposal is magkaroon ng rationing or ‘yong tinatawag nilang volume cap, either way, ‘yong importante ngayon ay mapahaba natin ‘yong number of days ng ating imbentaryo, kasi right now, on the average, ‘pag titignan natin lahat ng petroleum products, on the average 50 days,” he said.
(My proposal is to have rationing or what they call a volume cap, either way, what’s important now is for us to stretch the number of days of our inventory, because right now, if we look at our petroleum products, on the average it will last for 50 days.)
Among Gatchalian’s suggestions in the preliminary report he released last April 1 is a possible price cap on petroleum products and the rationing of fuel, to address supply concerns caused by the Middle East conflict.
The Senator noted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency allows the DOE to exercise powers granted to it by several energy laws — including those stated under Republic Act No. 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998.
Under Section 14 of R.A. No. 8479, DOE can “impose retail price caps on petroleum products during times of national emergency.”
Regarding fuel rationing, the ad hoc committee chairperson said that R.A. No. 7638 or the Department of Energy Act of 1992 allows the Energy Secretary to “formulate and implement fuel rationing programs during the present national energy emergency.”
READ: Possible fuel price cap, rationing raised in senator’s initial report
Early in the press briefing, Gatchalian said that R.A. No. 8479 allows the President to take over oil companies’ operations during a national emergency.
Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency last March 24, in response to the big time fuel price increases triggered by the Middle East conflict.
After four successive weeks of price increases on gasoline and diesel fuel used for cars, the cost of liquefied petroleum gas has also increased.
Several oil companies have already imposed LPG price increases as high as P36 per kilogram, which means the common 11-kilogram cylinder for residential use rise by around P403.
READ: LPG prices surge by P17 to P36 per kilo in April
For fuel, another round of price hikes awaits the country on Tuesday, seen to push diesel prices north of P150 per liter, and gasoline around the P100 per liter mark.
READ: OIL PRICE WATCH as of April 6, 2026
Administration critics have called out Malacañang for the government’s allegedly slow response despite the crisis.
In response, Malacañang recently announced that a crisis committee is being finalized to address concerns with supply of fuel and goods.
Last March 25, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a bill that will allow him to suspend collection of excise taxes on fuel — amounting to P10 per liter of gasoline and P6 per liter of diesel. /gsg
