Marcos may issue EO on reduced fuel tax by mid-April, says DOF

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may issue the executive order whether to suspend or reduce the excise tax rate on petroleum products by April 12 or April 13, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Thursday. 

During the hearing of the Senate’s Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) committee, Finance Undersecretary Karlo Fermin Adriano explained that the law only takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12316, which gives him emergency powers to suspend or reduce fuel excise tax, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

“In terms of the timeline, kasi may 15 days na (there are 15 days allotted for the) publication and effectivity. So, the earliest that the President can issue the EO is around April 12 or 13 po, if I’m not mistaken with my numbers,” he said. 

Adriano also said that the technical board will meet on Friday, while the main Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) will convene early next week to come up with recommendations for the President’s consideration ahead of the law's effectivity and the issuance of the executive order. 

RA 12316 provides that the President may, upon the recommendation of the DBCC, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, suspend the imposition of or reduce the excise taxes on fuel under this Section when the average Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) reaches or exceeds Eighty US dollars (USD 80) per barrel for one month immediately preceding the issuance of the suspension or reduction order. 

Senator Bam Aquino, for his part, expressed hope that concerned agencies will act with urgency, considering the ongoing energy supply disruptions.

“Here in the Senate, because we prioritized this measure…on our own and upon the certification of urgency of the President, we also hope that we will act with urgency. At kung ang pinakamaaga legally ay April 12 or April 13, inaasahan namin na mangyayari nga ito by April 12 or April 13,” Aquino said. 

(And if the earliest to make this happen  legally is by April 12 or April 13, then we expect it to happen by April 12 or April 13.) 

During the hearing, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella also informed that the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) has yet to convene until early next week. 

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Cancio, said that the UPLIFT committee already held initial internal meetings and is now coordinating with the Office of the President regarding Marcos’ schedule. 

“We impress upon you to please move as fast as the price of diesel and gasoline is going up. Move as fast as that. Kung kada linggo, tumataas ‘yung presyo ng diesel at gasoline dapat kada linggo, nagmi-meet rin kayo para may update kayo sa taumbayan,” Aquino said. 

(If the price of diesel and gasoline increases every week, you should also meet every week to provide updates to the people.) 

“I mean, the name is crisis committee, so ‘pag crisis, kailangan mabilis tayong gumalaw (if there is a crisis, we must move fast). Gumalaw na tayo (let’s move now),” he added.

The adoption of UPLIFT came to fruition when Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday. 

The UPLIFT provides for the government's coordinated, whole-of-government response framework, consisting of energy supply management measures to be implemented by the Department of Energy and its attached agencies, and complementary measures to support consumers and affected sectors to be implemented by concerned agencies.—LDF, GMA Integrated News