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Economic emergency declaration not necessary at this point –DOE’s Cusi
By TED CORDERO,GMA News Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi rejected calls for President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of economic emergency amid the continued spike in petroleum prices.
“I don’t think it is necessary at this point. Even if you declare an emergency, what would you do with the emergency?” Cusi said at a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
On Monday, Albay Representative Joey Salceda said declaring a state of economic emergency would hasten the distribution of aid for the sectors affected by the rise in prices of fuel products.
"Ang pinakamabilis diyan [The fastest way] is for the President to declare a state of economic emergency arising from the fuel crisis and therefore enabling him to use the calamity fund or for local government units to use their calamity funds to provide relief to tricycle drivers, farmers, and fisherfolks," Salceda said.
However, Cusi said that the “government is doing everything.”
“It’s a total effort of everybody to face the problem. Hopefully, this problem will not last long,” the Energy chief said.
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“Ang kailangan ay framework na ang makaka-address lamang ay ang mga legislators,” Erguiza said.
(What we need is a framework that only legislators can address.)
The DOE had urged Congress to amend the Oil Deregulation Law to allow the government to intervene amid the continuous spike in petroleum prices due to tight global supply and high demand.
Malacañang had also called on Congress to review the oil deregulation law amid the weekly increases in oil prices and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Congress adjourned session last February 4 and would only resume session by May 23 or after the May 9 national and local elections.
Congress, however, can resume session if President Rodrigo Duterte calls for it. — DVM, GMA News