House Speaker Faustino Dy III has expanded to 13 the number of committees tasked with crafting both short- and long-term solutions to address the unusual spike in oil prices.
“The objective of these hearings is to work with our partners in the Executive to identify solutions, not point fingers,” Dy said, stressing the need for collaboration rather than blame.
He explained that the House aims to hear directly from economic managers and frontline agencies to gather the necessary information for measures that will help Filipinos cope with the impact of the Middle East conflict.
The committees involved include: Ways and Means, Labor, Agriculture and Food, Energy, Foreign Affairs, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Transportation, Information and Communications Technology, Economic Affairs, Social Services, Trade and Industry, Overseas Workers Affairs, and Appropriations.
House Committee on Ways and Means chair and Marikina City 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo said the committees will first hold a joint hearing to consolidate data and identify specific problems before drafting proposals individually.
“Ang sole purpose is really to have an orchestrated and unified response on the part of the House para harapin at tingnan kung ano ang mga pwede nating magawa on an urgent basis para ma-address natin itong oil price crisis,” Quimbo said.
He added that the hearings aim to gather enough information to pass legislation, possibly including a supplemental budget for assistance to affected sectors, while also building long-term resiliency.
“May recognition tayo na ‘yung crisis na ito is not at all self-inflicted. It is completely coming from forces beyond our control. But it doesn’t mean that we cannot prepare for it,” Quimbo emphasized.
Speaker Dy wants Congress to focus on solutions rather than criticism. The joint hearing is scheduled for April 8, even during the House’s plenary recess.