Manila: The government is shifting from immediate crisis response to a recovery plan as fuel prices remain high and volatile amid the prolonged global oil shock, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDEV) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Monday. Balisacan presented the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) action plan during a public hearing by the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee.
According to Philippines News Agency, the objective of the UPLIFT plan is to ensure stability and continuity in economic activity while preparing for recovery from the shocks brought about by the global situation. Balisacan emphasized moving beyond short-term interventions and working toward a more resilient system that can withstand similar disruptions in the future. The UPLIFT plan outlines a comprehensive government approach to sustain economic activity and protect vulnerable sectors, including fuel subsidies and logistics support for farmers and fisherfolk, expanded transport assistance for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, and social protection measures such as cash aid for low-income households.
In the energy sector, the government is implementing supply stabilization measures, such as securing oil supply, monitoring against hoarding and profiteering, and promoting energy conservation. Additionally, the government is studying longer-term options, including biofuel imports and strategic fuel reserves. Sen. Win Gatchalian, who chairs the panel, underscored the need to translate plans into concrete outcomes, emphasizing that plans are no longer sufficient and that results are necessary. He noted that 45 days into the crisis, fuel prices remain unpredictable, leaving Filipinos burdened by both rising costs and uncertainty. Gatchalian highlighted that only about 43 percent of PUV drivers have received fuel subsidies so far, pointing out gaps in implementation.
The government has earmarked approximately PHP238 billion to fund transport subsidies, agricultural support, and social protection programs, with a portion already released and the rest available for deployment. Balisacan stated that the UPLIFT plan aims to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential goods and services, sustain employment, and safeguard vulnerable sectors while laying the groundwork for economic recovery.
Meanwhile, civil society group 1Sambayan stressed that Philippine interests must remain paramount in any agreement with foreign states in the exploration, development, and utilization (EDU) of oil and gas within the country's exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. The group emphasized that any agreement should expressly recognize that the oil and gas belong to the Philippine state, and the EDU of the oil and gas must be embodied in a Service Contract under Presidential Decree No. 87, as amended. Furthermore, the service contract must be governed by Philippine law to ensure compliance with the Philippine Constitution, the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that voided the 2005 Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) among Philippine, Chinese, and Vietnamese oil firms in the South China Sea. The high court ruled that the JMSU violated the 1987 Constitution by allowing foreign-owned corporations to explore national resources without full state supervision.
