AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Sharon Garin says that there is an urgent need for a special session in Congress to address the local fuel situation, reiterating the call made by her numerous House of Representatives colleagues.
A massive fuel price hike took effect on March 8, as gasoline price went up P3.60 per liter, diesel by P5.85 per liter, and by kerosene by P4.10 per liter.
Garin, citing the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) fuel pricing benchmark, says that prices could jump even higher by March 15.
“And then there are still MOPS estimates that by March 15, we might be looking at P12.80 and P8.30 increases per liter of diesel and gas. This is already an emergency and there are more we can do in Congress to at least mitigate the effects of the oil price increases to our already ailing economy,” said the House Committee on Economic Affairs chairperson in a press statement on Wednesday, March 9.
“If and when, the House convenes a special session, there should be a review on the unbundling of the oil prices and the inclusion of the minimum inventory requirements provision to the Oil Deregulation Law as proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) in the agenda,” Garin continued.
The House is currently on recess given the upcoming elections on May 9. Only President Duterte has the authority to call Congress to a special session, according to the 1987 Constitution.
Without the President’s approval, the House will only be able to convene after the elections.
“We cannot just sit back and watch whatever economic gains from relaxing restrictions from the last three months go down the drain. If we hold the special session now, we can pass a measure in just a day and the president can sign it immediately,” Garin pointed out.
Last March 7, the House Fuel Crisis Ad Hoc Committee held a hearing to discuss possible solutions to address the fuel crisis. Garin is a co-chairperson of the ad hoc panel.