Article by Viory
President of the Philippines Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warned that the country must prepare for a prolonged fuel crisis as he declared a state of national energy emergency on Wednesday, noting the move would make the authorities more agile in oil procurement amid rising prices and supply risks.
Arriving at the press conference in Manila, Marcos said the decision was aimed at giving the government greater flexibility. “The reason that I declared an energy emergency is to provide the government with more options should the need arise… and unites all involved agencies in one direction,” he stated.
The declaration allows authorities to bypass lengthy procurement processes and accelerate fuel imports. “Because of the power of Executive Order 110, we can do more and take quick action as a government. The Department of Energy can procure and buy oil faster from other countries,” Marcos said, adding a warning against market abuse: “We will not allow hoarding… We will enforce that rule very, very strongly.”
Highlighting the country’s vulnerability, the president noted that the Philippines relies heavily on imported fuel. “Almost all of our oil is imported… and we need to prepare if this becomes worse and prolonged,” he said.
“This does not mean that we should panic. It means that we are doing everything that we can to assess and alleviate the situation…” the president added.
The emergency declaration comes as global energy markets remain under pressure following escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly after the launch of US–Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28. The conflict has disrupted key shipping routes and driven oil prices sharply higher, creating ripple effects for import-dependent economies such as the Philippines.
Article by Viory
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