Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Saturday, March 21, that the Senate's ad hoc committee is targeting to consolidate and submit in two weeks its recommendations on how to address the economic effects of the Middle East conflict

In an interview with Usapang Senado on DWIZ, Gatchalian, chairman of the ad hoc panel, said the body was created to unify the findings and proposals of various Senate committees amid overlapping concerns on fuel prices, transport, and food security.

“The output of the ad hoc committee is a recommendation to the Senate President and also to the President,” he said. He noted that the panel’s work was conducted in aid of legislation while also aimed at policy response.

Gatchalian said the committee will gather inputs from several panels, including those handling migrant workers, energy, and agriculture, to come up with a comprehensive strategy.

Named as Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT), the committee aims to implement a whole-of-government approach, ensuring seamless coordination among stakeholders, aligned priorities, and effective execution.

It shall submit a report to the Senate as a body containing its observations and recommendations. The Chief Executive will be furnished a copy for appropriate action.

“Dahil ngayon, kanya-kanyang hearing eh. At tama naman yung kanya-kanyang hearing. Perom marami kasing tinatawag natin criss-crossing topics (Right now, there are separate hearings, which is fine. But there are criss-crossing topics),” Gatchalian said.

The senator cited how rising fuel prices affect multiple sectors, including transportation and food, as higher logistics costs could lead to increased prices of basic goods.

He also pointed to global developments affecting supply chains, including fertilizer shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which could have implications on food security.

Gatchalian said the ad hoc panel has also initiated scenario-building exercises with government agencies to prepare for possible worst-case situations.

“Sabi namin sa ahensya, paano kung tumaas ng 200 ang presyo ng langis? At paano kung talagang totally walaang langis magagaling sa Middle East, ano ang gagawin ng ating bansa? (We asked agencies: what if oil prices increase by 200? What if there is no oil coming from the Middle East? What will the country do?)” he said.

The panel has invited officials from the executive and Senate committee chairpersons to its hearings, with another hearing set to get the side of the private sector.

Gatchalian emphasized the urgency of the panel’s work, citing the fast-moving developments affecting oil prices and their impact on the economy.

"May sense of urgency, kasi mabilis yung pangyayari. So Tuesday, magkaroon kami ng hearing, another hearing ang target namin, another one on Thursday para marinig naman yung private sector. Hopefully the following week i-consolidate na namin yung report (We have a sense of urgency because developments are fast. We will have a hearing on Tuesday and another one on Thursday to hear from the private sector. Hopefully, the following week we can consolidate the report),” he said.

He added that the panel is also reviewing available government funds to support possible interventions.

“At the end of the day, kailangan ng pondo. Kung intervention kailangan ng pondo, then dapat rin ang Senado alam kung magkano yun (At the end of the day, all of this will require funding. If interventions are needed, they will need funding, and the Senate must know how much),” Gatchalian said,

He bared that the committee was also studying whether or not a supplemental budget may be necessary.