By Lane Afable, News Editor
Congress on Monday assured the public of a steady, coordinated, and carefully calibrated response to the fuel crisis, as lawmakers continued to study all policy options to address rising fuel costs and protect Filipino households.
The assurance was conveyed by Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, as the Legislative Energy Action and Development (LEAD) Joint Committee conducted its second hearing to assess the economic impact of rising fuel prices and refine the government’s response.
The LEAD Joint Committee, composed of 13 key House committees, was formed under the direction of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy to unify the chamber’s response and align it with government-wide interventions.
“Hindi lamang ang pinakamabilis o pinakamadaling solusyon ang ating hinahanap. Ang tunay na kailangan natin ay ang wastong balanse ng isang solusyong maagap, epektibo, at responsable,” Quimbo, presiding officer of the LEAD Joint Committee hearing, said in his opening statement.
Quimbo said the situation, while challenging, is being addressed through a coordinated and data-driven approach.
“One thing became clear during that meeting: the challenge before us is not simple, and certainly not isolated,” he said.
Quimbo said that while global developments continue to exert pressure on the nation’s economy, the country’s fuel supply remains stable, with government focused on managing affordability and minimizing the impact on households.
“We saw how the ongoing global conflict has translated into real economic pressures here at home. We were reminded that while supply remains stable for now, the real issue confronting us is affordability and the cascading effects of high prices across the economy,” he said.
Quimbo pointed to ongoing government measures, including the use of the Malampaya Fund, repatriation support for overseas Filipino workers, and subsidy programs already reaching hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries.
“Sa pagpapatuloy ng ating discussion, nais kong maging malinaw: lahat ng policy options ay nananatiling bukas. Lahat ng datos at impormasyong ating naririnig ay patungo sa paglikha ng komprehensibo, malawakan, at pangmatagalang tugon,” he said.
He assured that all policy options—including proposals such as the suspension of the value-added tax (VAT)—are being carefully evaluated to ensure they deliver meaningful relief.
“We are open to all options, even proposals on the suspension of VAT or other price reduction methods,” Quimbo said.
“However, as emphasized in our previous discussions, these measures must be carefully studied—not only in terms of the overall fiscal impact, but more importantly, whether they will truly result in meaningful reductions in pump prices for our people without undermining the long-term strength of our economy.”
To ensure a focused discussion, the LEAD Joint Committee structured the hearing into four key areas: energy supply, subsidy programs, transport, and food production—sectors directly affecting daily life.
Quimbo underscored that the House remains focused on safeguarding both household welfare and economic stability.
“But for today, our focus is clear: to address the fundamental, cross-cutting issues that determine whether a Filipino family can put food on the table, whether a worker can afford to go to work, and whether our economy can remain stable amid continued uncertainty,” he said.
He also assured the public that discussions will continue in the coming days as the House refines its response.
“Allow me to emphasize that this will not be our last meeting. We will continue to convene as a Joint Committee in the coming days to ensure that all sectors—especially the most vulnerable and the middle class—are given the attention and support they require,” he said.
Quimbo urged lawmakers to stay focused on solutions that will strengthen the country’s resilience beyond the current crisis.
“Sa ating mga kasamahan, ang ating tungkulin sa Komiteng ito ay hindi lamang magtanong—kundi maghanap ng konkretong solusyon.
“Mga solusyon na hindi lamang para sa kasalukuyang krisis, kundi upang masiguro na sa susunod na pagsubok, mas handa ang ating ekonomiya, mas protektado ang ating mga mamamayan, at mas matatag ang ating bansa,” Quimbo said.
