VP Sara announces cost-cutting measures to aid public amid oil crisis

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) will take cost-cutting measures to ensure that more funds will be redirected to programs that would help the public amid the rising prices of commodities, said Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday. 

“Ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin ay isang mabigat na dagok sa hangarin nating magkaroon ng mapayapa at masaganang buhay para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Hindi normal ang ating pinagdaraanan; ito ay epekto ng mga krisis sa labas ng ating bansa, kabilang ang digmaan sa Gitnang Silangan, na direktang nakakaapekto sa presyo ng pagkain, langis, at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan,” said Duterte in a video message. 

(The continuous rise in the price of goods is a heavy blow to our desire to have a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino family. What we are going through is not normal; this is an effect of crises outside our country, including the war in the Middle East, which directly affects the price of food, oil, and other basic necessities.) 

The vice president said that OVP has existing programs that seek to help the public lessen their expenses, such as the PagbaBAGo campaign that provides free school supplies to students; free rides in Metro Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, and Tacloban; support for small businesses; and RIICE boxes or food bags for families in need. 

“Kasabay nito, nagpapatupad din kami ng mga cost-cutting measures sa loob ng aming tanggapan upang matiyak na mas maraming pondo ang mapupunta sa direktang tulong sa taong-bayan,” said Duterte. 

(Alongside this, we are also implementing cost-cutting measures within our office to ensure that more funds will go toward direct assistance for the public.) 

As part of its cost-cutting initiative, the OVP also said that it would no longer hold its event for the LGBT community in June. 

“Hindi na itutuloy ng OVP ang Pasidungog at Kasarilayaan sa buwan ng Hunyo. Ang mga ito ay dalawang malalaking pagtitipon para sa LGBTQ community at para sa year four accomplishment report ng aking termino. Sa halip, ay nakalaan sanang pondo para sa mga nasabing aktibidad ay idadagdag na lamang sa budget ng RIICE project,” said Duterte. 

(The OVP will no longer proceed with Pasidungog and Kasarilayaan in June. These are two big gatherings for the LGBTQ community and for the year four accomplishment report of my term. Instead, the funds that were intended for these activities will simply be added to the budget of the RIICE project) 

“Sa ating pagtitipid, unahin natin ang sapat na pagkain para sa ating pamilya, pagpapagamot sa may sakit, at ang edukasyon ng ating mga anak,” she added. “Ang pinakamabisang panlaban sa krisis ay kahandaan.” 

(In our efforts to save, let us prioritize sufficient food for our families, medical treatment for the sick, and the education of our children. The most effective defense against a crisis is preparedness.) 

The vice president also said that the government must plan its steps through the end of the year 2026. 

“Simulan na nating planuhin ang ating mga hakbang hanggang sa katapusan ng taong 2026, kasama na ang pagharap sa posibleng pagkawala ng trabaho, patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, at risk reduction measures laban sa epekto ng matinding init at mga pagbaha sa ating kabuhayan,” said Duterte. 

(Let us begin planning our steps through the end of the year 2026, including addressing potential job loss, the continuous rise in food prices, and risk reduction measures against the effects of extreme heat and flooding on our livelihoods.) 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier declared a state of national energy emergency through Executive Order No. 110.  

The EO ordered the adoption of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) for affected sectors, thereby activating a whole-of-government response to ensure energy supply stability, support key sectors such as transport, agriculture, and MSMEs, and protect Filipinos amid global oil supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. —LDF, GMA Integrated News