SPEAKER Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III has expanded to 13 the number of House committees tasked to lead a unified legislative response to the oil price crisis triggered by the escalating Middle East conflict, with joint hearings set to begin April 8 during the congressional session break.
Dy had said the hearings aim to ensure coordination with the Executive and produce concrete, actionable measures.
“The objective of these hearings is to work with our partners in the Executive to identify solutions, not point fingers,” the Speaker from Isabela said.
“We want to hear directly from our economic managers and frontline agencies so we have the information we need to come with measures that can help our people cope with the impact of the Middle East conflict,” he stressed.
In a virtual press conference on Tuesday, House Committee on Ways and Means chair and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo said the grouping was formalized after an initial emergency meeting convened by the Speaker with key committee leaders.
“The main goal is to have a coordinated and united response from the House to address and see what we can do quickly to tackle this oil price crisis,” Quimbo said.
He said five committees were initially involved in the emergency discussions—Ways and Means, Labor, Agriculture and Food, Energy, and Foreign Affairs—before the Speaker expanded the effort into a broader, institutional response.
He said the 13 committees are Energy, Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Labor, Transportation, Information and Communications Technology, Economic Affairs, Social Services, Trade and Industry, Overseas Workers Affairs, and Appropriations.
Quimbo said the multi-committee body is tasked to consolidate data and fast-track legislation, including possible funding support such as a supplemental budget.
The lawmaker explained that “the task is to be able to gather enough information so that we can pass the necessary legislation, whether it is in the form of a supplemental budget.”
He emphasized that the House is pursuing a two-pronged strategy anchored on immediate assistance and long-term resilience.
“So particularly on assistance sa mga affected sectors. And then secondly, it’s really creating a better resiliency,” Quimbo said.
“For just a more simple explanation, we wanted to do something very short-term plan and then isang long-term plan on how we can ready the country so it can be more resilient in the event na mangyari ‘yung ganitong klaseng crisis in the future,” he added.
Quimbo stressed that legislators recognize the crisis as externally driven but requiring decisive domestic action.
“May recognition tayo na ‘yung crisis na ito is not at all self-inflicted. It is completely coming from forces beyond our control. But it doesn’t mean that we cannot prepare for it,” he said.
He said Dy has directed the House to focus on solutions rather than blame as it works on a comprehensive legislative package.
“So sabi ni Speaker, instead of criticizing and fault-finding, finger-pointing, he wants Congress to be able to work out and hammer an entirely comprehensive package to address ‘yung immediate needs ng affected sectors,” Quimbo said.
“And then secondly is how do we make government and the economy more resilient so it will not fall down on its knees in the event na mangyari ito ulit.”
Quimbo said preparatory work is already underway even during the break, with technical meetings ongoing ahead of the formal hearings.
“So we’re going to work throughout the break. Even as we speak now, nag-Zoom meeting kami with technical people. The first formal meeting of the large committee is on April 8th.”
