SPEAKER Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III said the Philippines’ heavy dependence on imported petroleum products has left it extremely vulnerable to supply disruptions, and this situation should fuel the urgent shift to alternative and indigenous sources of energy that are readily available in the country.
“Alam n’yo po, 95% ay nag-iimport po tayo, very dependent tayo sa petroleum products, kaya dapat may mga alternatives tayo,” Dy said during Cauayan City’s 25th cityhood anniversary celebration on Monday night.
The Speaker from Isabela said natural gas, for example, holds potential as a viable alternative energy that could help reduce reliance on oil imports, noting that significant reserves are found in parts of the province, including Santiago, San Isidro, and Echague.
“These are possible alternative power sources so that if there’s another crisis and oil supplies stop, we have other options and don’t have to rely on oil products coming from the Middle East,” Dy said.
Dy’s remarks come as the House of Representatives treats the ongoing oil price surge as a critical moment to accelerate the country’s transition toward alternative and indigenous energy sources, while strengthening long-term economic resilience.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo said that the situation exposes the country’s vulnerability to external shocks, particularly conflicts in oil-producing regions.
“Ibig sabihin, magkagiyera ulit sa ibang bansa, in the Middle East, apektado na naman tayo. So how do we prepare the country so that it can survive and … it can be less affected whenever or if ever it happens?” Quimbo said.
“Number one is, of course, a wake-up call for us to really push for alternative sources of energy na hindi na tayo dapat nagiging dependent sa petrolyo,” he said.
Quimbo said this push for energy diversification will be a central focus of the joint hearings, convened by Speaker Dy, that will bring together 13 House committees tasked to craft measures meant to address the economic and sectoral impacts of the Middle East crisis.
The panel includes the committees on 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.
Beyond diversifying energy sources, Quimbo also emphasized the need to establish a national petroleum reserve to ensure supply stability and cushion future price shocks.
“So kailangan din natin na mag-imbak, may sarili ang gobyerno para may pamamaraan para masiguro natin ang supply, and then pangalawa is ‘yung supply na nakuha natin ay nabibili natin ng mura at naitatabi natin ‘yan in case of any emergency,” he said.
Quimbo added that lawmakers are looking at fast-tracking the development of renewable and indigenous energy sources such as solar, geothermal, and natural gas.
But we need to fast-track these alternative sources of energy because this is how we can thrive or survive.
