STOP THE BAND-AID FIXES: Groups want renewable energy, transport reform

QUEZON CITY — Climate and environmental groups have called on the Philippine government to go beyond emergency and temporary responses to the national energy crisis, urging structural reforms anchored on renewable energy, public transport, and local government empowerment following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency.

Marcos signed Executive Order (EO) No. 110 on March 24, 2026, declaring a state of national energy emergency as impacts of the US-Israel war on Iran threaten the availability and stability of the country’s energy supply. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor for global oil shipments, has affected the Philippines amid the continuing conflict.

EO 110 adopts the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), the Philippine government’s coordinated response framework. Its implementation will be under the oversight of the UPLIFT Committee, chaired by the President and joined by the Executive Secretary and the Secretaries of the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Economy Planning and Development (DEPDev), and Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz said the declaration proves how resilience must be the country’s main anchor toward a better development pathway.

“The Philippine government declaration of a national energy emergency just proves how resilience is not a trade-off to development, but in fact, it must be our main anchor towards a better development pathway for the country. The US-Israel war on Iran, like other global disruptions, must not only trigger emergency and temporary responses. We also have to plan ahead, because as the government starts a coordinated effort through the UPLIFT framework, Filipinos will still bear the brunt of the impact: fuel prices will continue to increase, detrimentally affecting the lives and livelihoods of people,” dela Cruz said.

“At the same time, we must recognize how global price shocks are quickly passed on to consumers within a largely privatized oil sector, while safeguards for fairness and accountability remain limited. This highlights a deeper structural issue, that an import-dependent energy system leaves countries like ours exposed to volatility, while private gains persist during crises,” he said.

Dela Cruz called for prioritizing renewable energy and moving away from overreliance on fossil fuels to insulate the country from international shocks and stabilize power costs.

“We have to learn our lesson now, to be able to move forward and advance a more resilient and sustainable system for the country. Discussions on energy security should not focus on technologies alone; instead we must focus on harnessing what we have indigenously in the Philippines. Prioritizing renewable energy and effectively moving away from our overreliance on fossil fuels will make us independent from international shocks, protect us from the volatility of global markets, help stabilize power costs, and strengthen our ability, as a nation, to manage the crisis,” he said.

He pointed to the vulnerability of small islands and isolated grids, where the majority of power generation relies on diesel power plants.

“With the Philippines’ archipelagic nature, energy access and affordability have also been a long-time concern for small islands and isolated grids, where the majority of power generation relies on diesel power plants. With our continued reliance on imported fossil fuels, this can be further aggravated by the US-Israel war on Iran, which further proves that indigenous, renewable energy is the best way forward for the Philippines – it translates to lower power costs and reliable electricity for education, health, and public services deserved by Filipino people and communities,” dela Cruz said.

On transportation, dela Cruz called for a system-wide approach that treats transport as a public service.

“Addressing transportation concerns will also require a system-wide approach. We must treat our transport system as a public service, and it is high time to ensure that people are prioritized, instead of vehicles. The impacts of fuel price increases should not be borne by transport workers and commuters alone. Government subsidies must be channeled towards interconnected public transport routes; safer, accessible infrastructure for active and multimodal mobility; proper financing mechanisms; and technical support. In turn, these subsidies translate to economic investments that allow Filipinos to be productive and prioritize basic necessities,” he said.

He also emphasized the crucial role of local government units (LGUs), citing existing examples of local resilience initiatives.

“We welcome the establishment of a unified approach from national government agencies, but we also have to recognize the crucial role of local government units, who have a better understanding of their communities’ actual situation, experiences, and how best to adapt to such shocks. LGUs have already been taking the lead towards resilience in their localities; for instance: Quezon City already shown how planned, people-centered transport systems have reduced both cost and uncertainty for commuters, while Guiuan, Eastern Samar and Paranas, Samar have been powering their operations and serving their communities through solar energy. We do not need to start from scratch: practical and efficient solutions already exist, and it is only a matter of learning from and scaling these approaches,” dela Cruz said.

“All things considered: renewable energy advancement, multimodal public transportation and active transport, and energy security must all be part of a combined, resilient system. In ICSC, we believe that true climate action must be centered on the actual needs of people and local communities. As the world faces the impacts of war, developing countries also continue to face the worsening impacts of climate change. The US-Israel war on Iran, in addition to impacts on fuel supply and prices, has already generated a year’s worth of carbon emissions in just 14 days. On top of the lives of people directly affected by the war, this will also lead to more devastating effects in the long run,” he said.

“Climate change is and will always be a development issue, which is evident in the escalating impacts already affecting our communities. Our focus must remain clear and grounded on these realities, without distraction or delay. War brings harm not only on the economies and people of directly affected countries, but on the entire planet, diverting critical resources, destabilizing energy systems and undermining collective efforts to confront the far greater and existential crisis of climate change. Genuine climate action means actively calling for an immediate end to war, corruption, impunity, and systemic oppression, and ICSC is committed to do its part in upholding these values,” dela Cruz said.

Environmental group Greenpeace, meanwhile, said the declaration must deliver immediate relief to Filipinos amid staggering oil price hikes and the US-Iran war, as the country remains under a year-long state of calamity. The group said this is the chance to shift toward people-centered, climate responsive solutions, particularly with a looming Super El Niño expected later in the year.

Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Jefferson Chua said the government’s response to the crisis so far has been inadequate.

“The government’s response to the ongoing crisis so far has been lackadaisical, with constant denials that we are in a crisis, and the glaring absence of an astute and long-term perspective that this is all happening at a time of worsening climate impacts that need to be urgently addressed. The effects of the conflict in West Asia will be felt for years, alongside a deepening climate emergency that is predicted in 2026 to again bring record heat. This will exacerbate the food shortages already seen as a consequence of the war, aside from other climate impacts that are already compromising the survival of people and the planet,” Chua said.

“Marcos’ Executive Order 110 must ensure urgent delivery of relief in the form of subsidies for Filipinos, particularly vulnerable sectors such as transport, agriculture, and fisheries. But beyond this, for the response to be meaningful and the relief for Filipinos lasting, the order must pave the way for structural reforms to address systemic problems that are putting the burden of the worst impacts of economic shocks on the shoulders of ordinary Filipinos. The government must reform economic policies that prioritize corporate profits and the super rich, and at the same time, institute stronger policies for climate action, starting with phasing out the country’s dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.

Chua proposed specific policy actions, including temporarily suspending value added tax (VAT) to support households struggling with inflation, regulating the prices of goods and services, repealing the Oil Deregulation Law, and instituting a progressive tax on rich corporations and individuals.

“These actions can include temporarily suspending value added tax to support households struggling with inflation and regulating the prices of goods and services. This declaration likewise presents an opportunity for the government to initiate systemic changes beyond current stop-gap measures, for example by repealing the Oil Deregulation Law that has created massive profits for corporations while Filipinos have shouldered the burden in the form of price volatility and pass through costs. The government should also institute a progressive tax on rich corporations and individuals. It’s unacceptable that the current tax system puts the burden on ordinary Filipinos who are already shouldering rising costs, now made worse by war and our continued dependence on fossil fuels,” Chua said.

He called for clear safeguards and full transparency in the use of funds unlocked by EO 110 for subsidies and support measures.

“With E.O. 110 unlocking funds for subsidies and support measures for vulnerable sectors, the government must include clear safeguards and full transparency so these resources reach communities and are not lost to corruption. Bugbog na bugbog na ang mga Pilipino. We cannot allow a repeat of past failures like flood control corruption,” Chua said.

“Climate action and the rapid shift to renewable energy must be foundational to the government response. Communities around the country are already showing that solutions exist, and the government must take cue from it. People are turning to renewable energy sources like solar, to meet their energy needs. It is time for governments to match this urgency and rapidly scale up a just transition to renewable energy, protecting communities from economic shocks while addressing the climate crisis through phasing out fossil fuels,” he said.

“This is not time to be complacent or to rely on business as usual. President Marcos Jr must stop protecting corporate profits and start delivering on his mandate to uphold the interests of the millions of ordinary Filipinos who are now struggling to make ends meet. The president must use this opportunity to protect communities and build a fair, resilient future for all Filipinos,” Chua said.