Courtesy: Rep. Quimbo office
THE House of Representatives is moving to craft a proposed “Bayanihan 3” measure in response to the ongoing oil price crisis, but unlike its pandemic-era predecessors, the new package will go beyond direct cash aid and also focus on long-term structural reforms.
House Committee on Ways and Means chair and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo said the initiative is being shaped under the direction of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III as part of a broader effort to address the economic impact of rising fuel costs.
We have not discussed the entire concept of what the outcome will be, but for me, in reality, this is Bayanihan 3. If there’s a key objective here, it is for Congress to hammer out Bayanihan 3,” Quimbo said during a virtual press briefing.
The measure will be crafted through joint hearings led by a 13-panel House committee formed by Speaker Dy to address the impact of the Middle East crisis, namely Energy, Agriculture and Food, 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.
Congress enacted the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which centered on large-scale subsidy programs as lockdowns brought economic activity to a halt.
Quimbo said the current crisis presents a different context and does not require the same level of across-the-board financial assistance.
“The pandemic was really worse as far as we’re concerned because napaka-indeterminable noong sitwasyon. Hindi natin alam kung magkakagamot, magkakabakuna, gaano ba katagal na masu-sustain. Practically noon, the entire economy went to a halt. Hindi makalabas ang tao, it really necessitated a massive ayuda program. So iba ang konteksto ngayon,” he said.
He stressed that while financial assistance remains part of the plan, it will not be the centerpiece of the proposed measure, in line with the direction set by Speaker Dy.
“If ayuda ang pinag-uusapan, this is really just one part of Bayanihan 3. It cannot just be ayuda-centric. In fact, ayuda, as far as what the Speaker wants, is not even 15 percent of the entire package that he wants,” Quimbo said.
Instead, he said Bayanihan 3 is being positioned as both an immediate response and a platform for long-delayed reforms.
“But unlike past Bayanihans, it’s not just going to be a way to target direct subsidies to those who are in need. The difference with Bayanihan 3 is that it also provides us with an opportunity to implement long-needed reforms,” he said.
Quimbo said lawmakers are working to identify sectors that require urgent support and to mobilize available government resources without disrupting existing programs.
“The first task is trying to map out where we can sweep additional funds without affecting current programs,” he said.
He added that any targeted assistance will prioritize sectors most vulnerable to rising fuel costs, particularly transportation, while helping prevent a broader surge in prices.
“The direction is to make sure that whatever aid we do is for the purpose of making certain that prices don’t spiral,” Quimbo said.
Quimbo stated that the measure will not only provide short-term relief but also address long-standing gaps in subsidy delivery and economic resilience.
“I think it’s a wake-up call to us today that we don’t have a clear, electronic, and well-targeted distribution system,” he said, noting plans to develop a digital subsidy system linked to the national ID.
He added that Bayanihan 3 could also accelerate reforms in the energy sector, including support for renewable energy and incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles.
“We want to take this opportunity with Bayanihan 3 to make the country more resilient in terms of energy,” Quimbo said.
Quimbo said preparatory work is ongoing, with technical discussions underway and the first formal joint committee hearing scheduled for April 8 during the congressional break.
