The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that aims to establish a permanent national response mechanism to help Filipinos cope with fuel price increases, energy supply disruptions, inflation, and other economic shocks.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, lawmakers passed House Bill No. 9305, also known as the proposed “Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo at Goods Assistance (KALINGA) Act,” with 294 affirmative votes, three negative votes, and no abstentions.
The bill was principally authored by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, with the backing of 156 co-authors.
If enacted into law, the measure would institutionalize a government-wide emergency response framework that automatically activates targeted assistance programs once specific fuel, energy, or economic indicators reach critical levels.
Under the proposal, the President may declare a state of national energy emergency when global oil prices remain unusually high, local fuel prices surge significantly, or the country’s fuel reserves fall below established thresholds.
Such a declaration would allow the government to implement temporary measures aimed at stabilizing prices, protecting supply chains, ensuring the continuity of essential services, and mitigating the impact of external economic pressures on vulnerable sectors.
Marcos emphasized the need for a proactive response system, saying:
“These are no longer isolated or temporary disruptions. Fuel and energy shocks now have immediate effects on food prices, transport costs, electricity rates, jobs and household incomes.”
He added:
“This measure ensures that government already has a standing legal framework to respond quickly, decisively and in a coordinated manner during times of crisis.”
Among the proposed interventions are cash assistance, fuel subsidies, transport support, food vouchers, electricity subsidies, aid for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), support for farmers and fisherfolk, emergency financing, logistics assistance, and strategic fuel reserve programs.
Priority beneficiaries include low-income households, minimum wage earners, displaced workers, public transport operators and drivers, delivery riders, farmers, fisherfolk, logistics providers, MSMEs, overseas Filipino workers, and other vulnerable groups.
The bill also authorizes emergency procurement, fuel inventory monitoring, contingency supply planning, concessional lending, agricultural assistance, temporary regulatory relief, and energy conservation initiatives.
To strengthen transparency and efficiency, the measure mandates the use of interoperable digital databases, verified beneficiary registries, digital payment systems, and automated validation processes.
The proposal likewise seeks to establish the KALINGA National Response Council, to be headed by the Executive Secretary and composed of key Cabinet officials. The council would oversee emergency operations, coordinate government interventions, monitor implementation, and recommend the declaration or lifting of a national energy emergency.
All spending and emergency actions undertaken under the measure would remain subject to transparency safeguards, congressional oversight, and audits by the Commission on Audit (COA).
Marcos said the bill is designed to shift the government’s approach from crisis reaction to long-term preparedness and resilience.
“The government should not merely be scrambling for solutions every time a global fuel crisis hits. We must already have systems in place to stabilize supply chains, protect livelihoods and ensure that assistance reaches affected Filipinos immediately.”
He added:
“This is ultimately about protecting ordinary Filipinos from economic shocks beyond their control while preserving stability in critical sectors of the economy.”