Senator Imee Marcos on Tuesday criticized the Department of Energy (DOE) for what she described as a delayed realization of its authority to regulate fuel prices, arguing that intervention should have come much earlier during the steep oil price hikes.
Marcos stressed that the government’s power to oversee the oil industry and intervene during surges is already provided under existing laws.
“Nakakalungkot lang na kung kelan pababa na ang presyo, tsaka magsasabi ang DOE na may kapangyarihan silang maglimita ng pagtaas ng presyo at magpatupad ng minimum na rollback,” she said.
The senator questioned the timing of the DOE’s action, suggesting the agency only examined its legal authority after the worst of the price spike had passed.
“Ngayon lang ata nila naaral ang kapangyarihan nila sa ilalim ng batas,” she added.
Marcos underscored the impact of delayed intervention on vulnerable sectors such as transport workers, farmers, and fisherfolk, many of whom were forced to scale back or halt operations due to high fuel costs.
“Kung kelan marami ng tumigil pumasadang mga driver, marami ng magsasakang hindi nakapag-ani at marami ng mangingisdang hindi nakapalaot at nawalan ng international orders eh tsaka pa lang nila naisip ito,” she said.
She further argued that the executive branch should have acted immediately after the declaration of a national energy emergency to stabilize prices and protect consumers.
“Dapat pagkadeklara pa lang ng national energy emergency ay gumalaw na sila para kontrolin ang presyo,” Marcos emphasized.