Overview
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 110 on Tuesday, declaring a one‑year energy emergency and creating a presidential UPLIFT committee to manage fuel supplies and essential goods.
- Energy officials reported roughly 45 days of fuel on hand as of March 20, and the order empowers state firms to fast‑track purchases, make advance payments above 15%, curb hoarding, and temporarily lean more on coal and lower‑grade Euro II fuel to keep power and transport running.
- The government is working with the U.S. State Department on sanctions waivers to buy from restricted suppliers, with 30‑day U.S. waivers already allowing Russian crude deliveries and Iranian oil at sea to discharge, while additional cargoes, including Abu Dhabi Murban due April 8, build buffer stocks.
- Aviation faces strain as Philippine Airlines says fuel is secured only through June and its chief flags possible rationing, while Cebu Pacific trims routes and frequencies from April after prices more than doubled, and Marcos says grounding planes is a distinct possibility if jet fuel tightens.
- To blunt the social hit, authorities are giving 5,000‑peso subsidies to public transport workers, offering free bus rides and a four‑day workweek for some civil servants, as transport unions plan a two‑day strike from Thursday and the order also accelerates permits for renewables and electric transport.