Quezon City — Environmental group Greenpeace said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a national energy emergency1 must deliver immediate relief to Filipinos amid staggering oil price hikes and the US-Israel war on Iran, as the country remains under a year-long state of calamity.2 Greenpeace says this is the chance to shift towards people-centered, climate responsive solutions that meet urgent needs while addressing the worsening climate crisis, particularly with a looming Super El Nino3 expected later in the year.
Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Jefferson Chua said:
“The government’s response to the ongoing crisis so far has been lackadaisical, with constant denials that we are in a crisis, and the glaring absence of an astute and long-term perspective that this is all happening at a time of worsening climate impacts that need to be urgently addressed. The effects of the conflict in West Asia will be felt for years, alongside a deepening climate emergency that is predicted in 2026 to again bring record heat. This will exacerbate the food shortages already seen as a consequence of the war, aside from other climate impacts that are already compromising the survival of people and the planet.
Marcos’ Executive Order 110 must ensure urgent delivery of relief in the form of subsidies for Filipinos, particularly vulnerable sectors such as transport, agriculture, and fisheries. But beyond this, for the response to be meaningful and the relief for Filipinos lasting, the order must pave the way for structural reforms to address systemic problems that are putting the burden of the worst impacts of economic shocks on the shoulders of ordinary Filipinos. The government must reform economic policies that prioritize corporate profits and the super rich, and at the same time, institute stronger policies for climate action, starting with phasing out the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
These actions can include temporarily suspending value added tax (VAT) to support households struggling with inflation and regulating the prices of goods and services. This declaration likewise presents an opportunity for the government to initiate systemic changes beyond current stop-gap measures, for example by repealing the Oil Deregulation Law that has created massive profits for corporations while Filipinos have shouldered the burden in the form of price volatility and pass through costs. The government should also institute a progressive tax on rich corporations and individuals. It’s unacceptable that the current tax system puts the burden on ordinary Filipinos who are already shouldering rising costs, now made worse by war and our continued dependence on fossil fuels.
With E.O. 110 unlocking funds for subsidies and support measures for vulnerable sectors, the government must include clear safeguards and full transparency so these resources reach communities and are not lost to corruption. Bugbog na bugbog na ang mga Pilipino. We cannot allow a repeat of past failures like the flood control corruption.4
Climate action and the rapid shift to renewable energy must be foundational to the government response. Communities around the country are already showing that solutions exist, and the government must take cue from it. People are turning to renewable energy5 sources like solar, to meet their energy needs. It is time for governments to match this urgency and rapidly scale up a just transition to renewable energy, protecting communities from economic shocks while addressing the climate crisis through phasing out fossil fuels.
This is not time to be complacent or to rely on business as usual. President Marcos Jr must stop protecting corporate profits and start delivering on his mandate to uphold the interests of the millions of ordinary Filipinos who are now struggling to make ends meet. The president must use this opportunity to protect communities and build a fair, resilient future for all Filipinos.”
Notes to the editor:
[1] President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday signed Executive Order No. 110, s. 2026, declaring a state of national energy emergency. The EO authorizes the unified package of livelihood, industry, food and transport as Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor for global oil shipments, affects the Philippines amid the continuing war between the United States of America, Israel and Iran.
[2] Palace declares 1-year state of national calamity to speed up disaster response after ‘Tino’
[3] ‘Super El Niño’ could push global temperatures to unprecedented highs, forecasters say
[4] Flood control corruption an obscene plunder of much-needed climate funds–Greenpeace
For more information and interview requests, please contact:
James Relativo, Communications Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63919 069 3424
