House targets energy crisis response bills by May 4

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo (Courtesy: House of Representatives)

The House of Representatives under Speaker Faustino Dy III is fast-tracking a package of measures to address rising fuel costs, with legislation expected to be ready when Congress resumes session on May 4.

The push is being led through the Legislative Energy Action Development (LEAD) Council, a multicommittee body tasked with aligning immediate relief and long-term reforms as oil prices continue to climb amid tensions in the Middle East.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means and presiding officer of the LEAD Council, said lawmakers are working through the break to ensure concrete measures are in place when the session resumes.

“By the end of the month, when we start our formal session in the first week of May, we will have a law that will address our urgent needs today,” Quimbo said in mixed Filipino and English in a radio interview.

The lawmaker said the planned legislation will provide immediate relief from the oil price shock and implement structural reforms to reduce the country’s vulnerability to global price swings.

He said the House has been holding extended and back-to-back hearings even during the congressional session break since March 21 to speed up the process and deliver results.

“This is what Speaker Bojie Dy is really rushing. He said, let’s not wait, even though we are all on break. I want to start moving,” Quimbo said.

Among the reforms being considered are incentives to promote cleaner and more sustainable transport, including support for electric vehicles and related industries.

“That includes providing incentives so that we can create a new cars program that will promote electric vehicle use. Not just from the government, but also providing tax incentives and various incentives that do not require the government to provide money,” Quimbo said.

He said the goal is to create a policy environment that encourages private sector investment in emerging industries such as electric vehicles, battery production, and other alternatives to fossil fuels. — Maricel Cruz