25/03/2026
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!
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KIKO, RISA, BAM PUSH URGENT AID, SUBSIDIES AMID FUEL PRICE SURGE
Senators Kiko Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, and Bam Aquino have called for urgent and expanded government assistance across key sectors as fuel prices surge amid tensions in the Middle East, warning of widespread economic strain if interventions are delayed.
Pangilinan renewed his push for increased subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk, alongside the immediate suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products to ease rising production costs.
The senator, who filed a bill granting the President emergency powers to suspend fuel excise taxes during global crises, said the move could reduce diesel prices by P6 per liter and gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by as much as P10 per liter.
He also flagged the insufficiency of the proposed P3,000 cash aid for fisherfolk sourced from the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), saying it falls short of addressing current challenges.
"Masyadong mababa. Hindi ito angkop sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon... kinakailangan i-adjust itong halaga na ito at dagdagan," Pangilinan said, adding that assistance should at least be doubled while also lowering fuel costs.
He urged the immediate release of guidelines for the P10-billion Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk fund under the 2026 budget, stressing the need to fast-track aid distribution.
Pangilinan warned that rising fuel costs—accounting for up to 80% of agricultural production expenses—are forcing fisherfolk to reduce operations, which could lead to supply shortages and higher food prices.
Hontiveros, for her part, backed the urgent release of cash aid for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and transport cooperatives under the P30-billion Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) fund.
She called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to clarify how the fund can be repurposed to reach transport workers affected by the oil price hike, including those not classified among the poorest.
"Sumulat tayo sa DBM para magtanong at maniguro sa agarang pag-abot ng tulong sa PUV drivers at transport coop members mula sa P30 billion na naset-aside para sa transport sector... Huwag nating hintayin na maparalisa ang buong public transport system bago tayo tumulong," Hontiveros said.
The senator warned that without clear mechanisms, the transport sector risks paralysis, noting that many drivers are already incurring losses while transport cooperatives struggle to keep their fleets running.
She also pushed for a P52.8-billion supplemental budget, including a P12-billion transport subsidy covering PUV drivers, delivery riders, and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) operators.
Meanwhile, Aquino emphasized the need for targeted and immediate assistance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and vulnerable middle-class sectors, many of whom fall outside traditional aid programs.
"Iyong mga middle class... above the poverty line and therefore hindi nila nakukuha iyong mga ayuda pero nasa delikadong sitwasyon sila," Aquino said.
He warned that the impact of rising fuel costs will soon be felt across markets, groceries, and transport, underscoring the need for swift and precise government intervention.
"We need to be very targeted sa tulong na ito. And we need to act fast," he stressed.
Aquino added that support for MSMEs and transport workers—through fuel subsidies, direct cash aid, and stronger supply chain linkages—is critical to preventing a broader economic slowdown.
