Manila: The government is sustaining and expanding assistance programs while ensuring stable fuel and power supply as it navigates the impact of global oil shocks triggered by the Middle East conflict. During the fourth meeting of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Committee on Tuesday in Malaca±ang, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed agencies to identify additional measures to ease the burden on Filipinos.
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration remains confident that current interventions are 'active and responsive' to public needs. More than 24,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have received assistance, while over 4,000 OFWs and 1,300 dependents have been repatriated safely, she said. On energy security, Castro reported that 471,000 barrels of oil have been delivered, with confirmed orders reaching 1 million barrels. The country currently has an average of 52 days' worth of oil supply, she added.
The government continues to ensure sufficient supply so work and services remain uninterrupted. The government has also extended support to vulnerable sectors, including over 977,000 public utility vehicle drivers assisted under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. More than 373,000 beneficiaries have received fuel subsidies, while 425,000 drivers in Metro Manila are covered by the TUPAD Tuloy Pasada pilot program.
To stabilize electricity supply, the government is expediting 22 renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 1,471 megawatts. Compliance with energy-saving measures has reached 86.89 percent across 665 government agencies. Meanwhile, efforts to keep food prices manageable also continue, with over 402,000 beneficiaries accessing PHP20 per kilo rice across 661 sites. A total of 14.9 million kilograms of rice have been sold under the program.
The UPLIFT Committee, created under Executive Order No. 110 and chaired by the President, leads the government's response to the energy emergency triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, focusing on stabilizing prices and protecting vulnerable sectors.
