SEN. Bam Aquino has supported the proposal to declare a state of national emergency to control the prices of necessities amid soaring fuel costs due to the war in the Middle East. Aquino said Sunday that the country is already in a crisis as record-high oil price hikes led to a surge in the cost of goods, which could place a heavy burden on the public and various industries. Under a state of national emergency, the president may exercise broader authority to direct government resources to provide financial and other forms of assistance to various sectors, increase funding for the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers in affected areas, and implement price control measures. “That’s why we support the call for the declaration of a national emergency to address the continuous oil price increases and lighten the burden of the people affected by the high costs of basic goods,” Aquino said. “The government, hopefully, should not wait for the situation to worsen since there is no certainty as to when the war in the Middle East would end,” he added. The senator, however, emphasized the need to strictly monitor the implementation of these measures to ensure that assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries and that no abuses or irregularities occur. He also reiterated his call for financial assistance to the transport sector, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and vulnerable middle-class groups to keep the economy afloat.