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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto prepared to summon senators for a special session

Sotto prepared to summon senators for a special session

Published Mar 25, 2026 04:46 pm
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said on Wednesday, March 25, that all senators are expected to respond to any special session that President Marcos may call amid the oil crisis caused by the Middle East conflict.
Senate President Vicente
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (Senate PRIB photo)
"I will if needed. Not at the moment but I’m sure they are aware of developments in the country," he said in Viber message to reporters.
“All legislators are expected to respond to any special session the President may call,” he added.
Reacting to the declaration of President Marcos to place the country under a state of national energy emergency, Sotto said, “Perhaps it has come to the attention of the President that there are unscrupulous people taking advantage of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East by jacking up their prices.”
So far, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said in a press conference that the President has not made any formal communication yet to the Senate that they need any legislative-related moves.
"Sa ngayon, base rin sa computation namin, enough pa o kasya pa yung pondo ng gobyerno sa pagbibigay ng iba't ibang subsidiya. More or less, ang computation namin mga P190 billion. Meron existing ngayon sa General Appropriations Act sa 2026 (For now, based on our calculations, the government still has enough funds to provide various subsidies. Our estimate is around ₱190 billion, more or less. There are existing funds allocated under the 2026 General Appropriations Act)," he said.
Before adjournment, the Senate has yet to act on Senate Bill No. 1485, otherwise known as the Biofuel Act of 2006.
The proposed measure seeks to reduce fuel prices by suspending the implementation of the biofuel blend requirement of gasoline and diesel for a year if the price of blended gasoline or diesel is at least 5 percent as compared with pure gasoline or diesel engine fuels.
Senator Bam Aquino raised the possibility of also suspending value-added tax (VAT) on fuel. 

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Senate President Vicente \"Tito\" Sotto III President Marcos Senate of the Philippines Special Session
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