The House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill 9305, also known as the proposed Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo at Goods Assistance (KALINGA) Act, which aims to establish a swift government response mechanism during severe oil and inflation crises.
The measure was approved via viva voce (voice) voting during Wednesday’s plenary session. According to House Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson and Marikina City 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo, the bill institutionalizes a national crisis-response framework by setting specific thresholds that will automatically trigger government interventions during extraordinary fuel price hikes, supply disruptions, inflation shocks, and energy emergencies.
HB 9305 authorizes direct and targeted assistance—including cash, food, fuel, electricity, transport, labor, MSME, and OFW-related support—to heavily affected sectors. Quimbo emphasized that the measure serves as both a long-term crisis-response framework and an energy-security initiative.
“The bill promotes energy conservation, fuel efficiency, renewable energy adoption, electric mobility, and other measures that reduce our dependence on imported petroleum,” Quimbo said.
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, a co-author of the bill, stated that the KALINGA Act provides a clearer playbook for the government when ordinary Filipinos are burdened by sudden spikes in fuel and basic commodity prices.
“The Kalinga Act is about preparedness, pero preparedness with compassion. Under the leadership of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Speaker Bojie Dy, we want the government to be ready with direct, targeted, and time-bound help when fuel prices begin to hurt families, workers, farmers, fisherfolk, drivers, riders, and small businesses,” Marcos said.
The Kalinga Act is about preparedness, but preparedness with compassion…
Under the proposed law, the President can declare a state of national energy emergency upon the recommendation of the KALINGA National Response Council. The declaration is triggered if Dubai crude oil prices reach or exceed $80 per barrel for 30 consecutive days, domestic fuel prices rise by at least 30% within 30 days, or the national fuel inventory drops below a 30-day supply.
Once a state of national energy emergency is declared, the President may exercise limited, time-bound emergency powers to realign or augment available funds for emergency relief measures, subject to constitutional, budgetary, procurement, and audit rules.
It also allows for expedited emergency procurement of fuel, energy, transport, food security, and social protection programs, subject to transparency guidelines and Commission on Audit (COA) post-audits.
Marcos highlighted the broad economic impact of fuel price spikes on the daily cost of living, noting that the bill protects a wide array of vulnerable sectors including low-income households, minimum wage earners, public transport drivers, delivery riders, farmers, fisherfolk, MSMEs, and OFWs.
“Kapag tumataas ang presyo ng langis, hindi lang gasoline stations ang apektado. This bill recognizes the chain reaction on food prices, pamasahe, electricity, livelihood, small businesses, and the daily cost of living, and it gives the government the tools to respond before the burden reaches the Filipino family,” Marcos added.
(When oil prices rise, it’s not just gasoline stations that are affected. This bill recognizes the chain reaction on food prices, fares, electricity, livelihood, small businesses, and the daily cost of living…