Energy crisis response bill eyed by May 4

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is fast-tracking a package of measures to address rising fuel costs, with legislation expected to be ready when Congress resumes session on May 4.

The push is being led by the Legislative Energy Action Development (LEAD) Council, a multi-committee body tasked with aligning immediate relief and long-term reforms as oil prices continue to climb amid tensions in the Middle East.

Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, chairman of the House committee on ways and means and presiding officer of the LEAD Council, said lawmakers are working through the break to ensure that concrete measures are in place once session resumes.

“When we start our formal session on first week of May, we will have a law that will address the urgent needs today,” Quimbo said in a radio interview.

Congress has been on session break since March 21.

Quimbo said the planned legislation will tackle both immediate relief from the oil price shock and structural reforms to reduce the country’s vulnerability to global price swings.

He said the House has been holding extended and back-to-back hearings – even during the congressional session break – to speed up the process and deliver results.

“Speaker Bojie Dy wants to fast-track this. He said, let us not wait even while we are on break. I want to start moving,” Quimbo said.

Among the reforms being considered are incentives to promote cleaner and more sustainable transport, including support for electric vehicles and related industries.

“Giving incentives is one of it so that we can establish new car programs that will promote electric vehicle use, not only in government but including giving tax incentives and other incentives that do not require the government to give money,” Quimbo said.