Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Explains Decision to Declare National Energy Emergency
MARCOS JR. – The President clarified that his decision to declare a National Energy Emergency does not mean that the people should panic.
Amid the soaring prices of fuel in the Philippines due to the war in the Middle East, Pres. Bongbong Marcos declared a State of National Energy Emergency in the country. His declaration came amid the firm stance of the Palace that the oil supply in the country is sufficient.
Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro even previously told the public that there is no need for panic buying. She stressed that the supplies of fuel in the country is sufficient after several vehicle owners had their vehicles’ tanks filled up prior to a bigtime oil price hike.
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also previously assured the public that the food and petroleum supplies in the country are sufficient. While he admitted that there is no certainty as to when the Middle East war will stop, he revealed that the Philippines is already talking with other countries for the oil supply.
The Palace previously revealed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos has ordered the creation of a crisis committee. According to Usec. Claire Castro, the President wants a committee to focus on the situation amid the ongoing Middle East war.
Undeniably, the State of National Energy Emergency declaration of Marcos Jr. left countless Filipinos wondering about the real status of the oil supplies in the country. Recently, the President clarified his decision to make such declaration.
Based on News5, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed that the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency in the country does not call for the public to panic. According to him, it is a precautionary and also an indicator that the government is moving.
“I want to assure everyone that this does not mean that we should panic. It means that we are doing everything that we can to assess and to alleviate the situation. It is a precautionary, too, so that we are ready for whatever comes next,” the President said.
Marcos Jr. explained that the Asian countries are the most affected in the restrictions with regards to the passage in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has kept the passage close for vessels that are linked to the United States and Israel, the two countries which attacked Iran three weeks ago.
“All the options that have been available to us, we are now exercising. In terms of the subsidies, fuel subsidies, cuts in fees, in our ports, cuts in charges, and again, the continued working of our government to talk to other governments and even the private sector… We have done all of those things,” Marcos Jr. added.
According to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he declared a State of National Energy Emergency so the government will have more options if the needs arise. Based on the post, with the country being under a State of National Energy Emergency, the government can purchase oil without having to go through the long process. He also wants all the agencies of the state to be united under the same direction so he made the declaration.
The Philippine currency also hit its lowest falls amid the ongoing Middle East war. Previously, Pres. Bongbong Marcos also spoke on the weakening of the value of the Philippine Peso.