By Brian Campued
“Hindi ito basta pondo. Ito ay seguridad—seguridad sa biyahe, sa hanapbuhay, at sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng Pilipino.”
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday approved the release of P20 billion to fund the Department of Energy’s (DOE) efforts to secure domestic fuel supply amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East that have disrupted global oil production and distribution.
In a news release Wednesday, Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo noted that the swift approval of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) is in line with the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to shield Filipinos from the impact of rising fuel prices.
“Under the President’s directive, we are moving with urgency to ensure that fuel remains available, prices are moderated, and essential services continue uninterrupted. This is government acting ahead of the crisis—not reacting after the damage is done,” Sec. Toledo said.
The budget, which came from the Malampaya Gas Fund under the Special Account in the General Fund (SAGF), will support the government’s Emergency Energy Security Program, implemented by the Philippine National Oil Company–Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC).
The funding will be used for the strategic procurement of fuel products, including diesel, gasoline, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in an effort to boost national fuel inventory, stabilize pump prices, and ensure uninterrupted operations across transport, logistics, agriculture, emergency response, and other critical sectors.
“Every peso we release here is meant to keep the economy moving, keep goods flowing, and keep services running,” Toledo stressed.
The DOE, in particular, is directed to implement energy supply management measures, including fuel optimization and energy conservation.
The DOE, PNOC, and PNOC–EC are likewise authorized to undertake the procurement of required fuel and petroleum products, and when deemed necessary, as certified by the Energy Secretary, to make advance payment of an amount exceeding 15% of the contract amount.
On March 20, the DBM also released P2.49 billion to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for its fuel subsidy program, providing direct assistance to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUV) affected by high oil prices.
-jpv
