SEN. Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill authorizing a P52.8-billion supplemental budget to fund expanded subsidies for drivers, farmers, fisherfolk, and repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the oil crisis brought about by the war in the Middle East. Senate Bill 1986 seeks to augment the budget for assistance programs to the marginalized sectors affected by the United States-Israel war on Iran, which has entered its third week. Hontiveros said the aid package includes P12 billion for transport subsidy to public transport drivers, including delivery riders and transport network vehicle service drivers. The subsidy will also fund the service contracting program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). A P2.8 billion subsidy under the Department of Agriculture will go to farmers and fisherfolk, who are badly affected by the steep increase in the prices of fuel and fertilizer. Hontiveros said the subsidy aims to prevent food supply shortages by ensuring that farmers are not forced to reduce output due to high costs. She said the SB 1986 provides a P38 billion fund for the repatriation expenses (P18 billion) and reintegration and livelihood programs (P20 billion) for thousands of OFWs who might seek repatriation to escape the Middle East conflict. “Currently, the fund for transport subsidy is P2.5 billion from the 2025 continuing funds. The agricultural subsidy is only P150 million,” Hontiveros said on Wednesday in Filipino. “And the Department of Migrant Workers is also asking for help because their P1.76 billion emergency funds would not be enough if thousands of OFWs would be forced to return home,” she said.