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Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
March 24, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered the creation of a crisis committee to address the impact of the Middle East conflict, even as Malacañang maintained there is no oil crisis yet in the country as supply remains stable.
At a briefing yesterday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that the nation is experiencing only an oil “price disruption” and not a crisis, as she dismissed criticism that the administration is downplaying the situation.
“We are not downplaying anything – this is the real situation,” she pointed out.
Castro, meanwhile, said the composition of the committee would be known soon as the order creating it is still being finalized.
“Even before anyone suggested creating a crisis committee, the President had already ordered the creation officially of a crisis committee, so let’s just wait for the document, it’s already being finalized,” Castro said at a press briefing at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City where the President welcomed arriving workers from the Middle East.
Castro was replying to a question regarding government preparations should the Middle East war drag on.
“The document is still being finalized. So I can’t give you the details yet, although I have the draft, but we’ll announce later, when it’s finalized,” she said.
Castro said the committee’s main task would be to ensure stable oil supply and protect consumers from the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis.
“Of course, when we say crisis committee, it will focus primarily on addressing the needs of our countrymen, the stable supply of oil, fuel and ensure that the basic needs of our countrymen will not be interrupted,” the Palace press officer said.
And despite double-digit hikes in fuel prices, there is no oil crisis in the country yet, Castro said, echoing Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.
“Secretary Sharon Garin of the DOE said that right now, we are not considering the situation an oil crisis because we have a complete and enough supply of oil,” she said.
“Most probably, according to Secretary Sharon, there’s an issue over prices because of what’s happening in the Middle East,” Castro said.
Asked to clarify President Marcos’ recent statement in Bataan where he mentioned the phrase “oil crisis,” Castro said he was referring to the crisis in the Middle East.
In a separate Viber message to reporters, Castro quoted Garin as saying: “It will be a supply crisis when we’re less than the required minimum of 15 days and our suppliers refuse to deliver.”
She also stressed that the country’s oil industry is deregulated so prices reflect global market conditions.
Also at the briefing, Castro said the President has ordered the release of additional cash aid for transport workers on top of the P5,000 fuel subsidy.
“In the coming days, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will continue to release cash assistance to affected public utility drivers and this will be done in tranches,” Castro said.
She also said that while the President is expected to immediately sign the proposed measure granting him emergency powers to reduce excise tax on oil, its actual implementation would depend on conditions set by law.
The law provides that the suspension or reduction of excise taxes on petroleum products may be implemented only after global oil prices reach at least $80 per barrel for a continuous period of 30 days.
Sotto signs excise tax enrolled bill
Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto III has officially signed the enrolled bill granting Marcos the power to suspend fuel excise taxes.
Sotto confirmed receipt of the official paperwork from the House of Representatives late Monday.
However, the legislative process is not yet complete, as the measure still requires the signature of the House Speaker.
Once the Speaker signs the document, the House of Representatives – which initiated the enrolled copy – will have to transmit the measure to Marcos for his signature. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Marc Jayson Cayabyab
