Benitez backs Marcos energy emergency bill

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Bacolod Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said he will file the Bayanihan for Economic Resilience and National Stability Act of 2026 to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency amid the global oil crisis linked to tensions in the Middle East.

In a statement, Benitez said the bill seeks to empower the executive branch to respond efficiently to the evolving crisis while ensuring transparency, accountability and targeted relief through emergency powers, fiscal flexibility and strategic interventions to stabilize prices, protect vulnerable sectors and strengthen national resilience.

Benitez said the president’s declaration, along with the authorization of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport, or UPLIFT, is a timely and much-needed response to the crisis confronting the nation.

“If there is anything we should have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that government must be swift, decisive, and flexible in its response mechanisms,” the lawmaker said.

He added that he has long advocated a whole-of-government approach to major issues and said the declaration would allow the government to move as one to help Filipinos maintain decent lives, protect industries and prevent job losses during the crisis.

He appealed to his colleagues to begin deliberations on the proposal as soon as possible.

“Now more than ever, we need to act as the House of the People and craft a viable strategy that will allow us to overcome this crisis and ensure the welfare of the Filipino people,” said Benitez, who was recently elected deputy speaker in the 20th Congress.

Marcos signed Executive Order No. 110 declaring a state of national energy emergency and adopting UPLIFT, activating a whole-of-government response meant to ensure energy supply stability, support key sectors such as transport, agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises, and protect Filipinos from global oil supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

The order took effect immediately and will remain in force for one year, according to the Presidential Communications Office and Reuters.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, in a media interview on Wednesday, expressed support for the president’s declaration, saying it gives government more leeway to address the situation.

“We support that and we will see what the result of this declaration is,” Lacson said, adding that the provincial government welcomes any help from the national government.

Lacson said he believes the national government is doing its best to address the problem.

“This is something we did not expect, not even included in the budget for the year. But, it’s something that we have to deal with and needs belt tightening from all of us,” he said.

Lacson said local governments cannot depend entirely on the national government to absorb the problem.

“We will be experiencing hard times. We just hope this war in the Middle East will cease soon,” he added.

Lacson said that even if the war ends soon, recovery will still take time because the damage has already been done.

Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez also announced on social media a PHP 5,000 fuel subsidy for tricycle drivers in his district, stressing their importance to local communities.

He said the aid is being coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Negros Island Region.

The simultaneous distribution will be held on April 8 in Victorias City, E.B. Magalona, Silay City, Talisay City and Murcia.

Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Gasataya met with members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby on Tuesday to discuss the application process for fuel subsidies amid rising pump prices affecting drivers.

The meeting aimed to compile a comprehensive database and have all TODA presidents verify their members’ lists using application guidelines from the DSWD.

Based on Business Permits and Licensing Office data, 6,200 registered operating tricycles were recorded in 2025, while only 2,600 had secured mayor’s permits as of March 2026.

Gasataya encouraged members to include nonmember drivers affected by the crisis who also need support.

“This is the most important time for us to unite, as everyone is impacted by this crisis,” he said.

The deadline for submission was set for 7 p.m. on March 25, after which the Department of Social Services and Development was to encode the list and forward it to the DSWD for approval.

Before the consultation with TODA, Gasataya and City Administrator Mark Mayo met with the city social services office to push for the immediate release of fuel aid.

The meeting followed Gasataya’s earlier dialogue with local transport groups that staged a silent protest and a local transport strike on Monday.