Emergency powers may be what Aquino needs vs oil crisis–senator

MANILA, Philippines – Emergency powers may be what President Benigno Aquino III needs to address the impending oil crisis in the country, a senator hinted Monday.

Honasan said the President as head of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) has “full powers.”

“No less than the President is head of the Neda. Panderanga is just his deputy,” he said, referring to Neda Director General Cayetano Paderanga Jr.

“The President has full powers including probably pushing for emergency powers,” the senator added when interviewed over the phone.

But Honasan acknowledged that it was only the President’s economic team, who could determine if there was a need to give him emergency powers but subject to the approval of Congress.

He then urged the Neda or the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) to convene and define this impending fuel crisis as a national priority.

“My thinking is [this is an] emergency, this impending fuel crisis. And if Ledac or Neda is convened, then they are in a better position to determine it if the situation merits an imposition of emergency powers,” he pointed out.

Despite the government’s efforts to lessen the impact of oil price increases, Honasan was not satisfied at how the administration responded to the problem, noting that almost all agencies had been warned about the impact of the on-going tension in oil-rich countries like the Middle East.

Neda, he said, had failed to inform Congress and the public about the real situation and how this would impact on them.

“Hindi ba tayo mauubusan ng supply ng langis? Assuming na maraming supply, magkano naman? Kaya pa ba nating bilhin? [Won’t we run out of supply? Assuming that we have plenty of supply, how much will it be? Can we still afford it?],” he asked.

“Ang Neda ang dapat na nag iisip nyan at nagrereport sa Kongreso at tao. Pero lahat nagngangakngak lang e. Lahat na lang biglang naging experts sa oil [Neda should be the one thinking of this and reporting to the Congress and to the public. But everyone is just nagging. Suddenly everyone is an expert on oil],” he lamented.

In the meantime, the senator said the public has no other choice but to bite the bullet until the government comes up with a long-term solution to address the problem.

“We have to bite the bullet. We are the mercy of the global market,” he said.