Marcos urged to call special session after Holy Week

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must call a special session of Congress after Holy Week to address the worsening impact of the Middle East war on Filipinos, two lawmakers from northern Metro Manila said on Thursday. Interviewed separately via Viber, Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco highlighted the need for Congress to remain in session and “act decisively given the current situation.” “Especially now that the chief executive has declared a state of energy emergency,” they pointed out. Erice and Tiangco said they already filed measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis, including fuel subsidies for affected sectors, government austerity measures and suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products to ease the burden on consumers. “It would be unfair that Congress is on break while the Filipino people are suffering. This is not the time for recess — this is the time for action,” said Erice, a member of the House opposition. They noted that the crisis has gone beyond energy concerns and now affects inflation, transportation costs, food security, government revenues, and the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “In the long run, the families of OFWs in the country would be directly affected and that would be alarming,” Tiangco said. They called on the House to exercise its oversight powers over rising oil prices, citing alarming data. “It was indeed infuriating to find out that at the height of the crisis, there are opportunists and greedy people who take advantage for their own interests,” Erice said. He noted that based on the Asian diesel price tracker, the Philippines has already recorded a 97-percent surge in the prices of diesel, compared with other neighboring countries which only had a 30 percent to 40 percent rise. To ensure continuity of legislative work while conserving resources, Erice proposed a modified schedule like holding only two sessions weekly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to save on electricity. Tiangco suggested austerity measures like doing away with food catering, especially during committee hearings. “Let’s try bringing our own food — coffee and bread is good enough. What’s important, our work must continue amid this crisis. Let us show good example to our fellowmen,” the former long-time Navotas mayor said.

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