Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a national energy emergency in the Philippines, citing growing threats to fuel availability and energy stability triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The emergency declaration, issued through an executive order on Tuesday evening, came just hours after the government announced plans to increase electricity generation from coal-fired power plants in a bid to cushion the impact of rising global fuel costs.
According to the order, the government considers the Middle East crisis an immediate threat to the country’s energy security.
“A state of national energy emergency is hereby declared in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and the resulting imminent danger posed upon the availability and stability of the country’s energy supply,” the executive order stated.
The declaration empowers the Department of Energy to make advance payments of up to 15 percent to secure fuel supply contracts and authorises direct intervention against fuel hoarding, speculative pricing, and profiteering.
It also enables coordinated emergency measures across multiple agencies to reduce the economic impact of possible disruptions in global fuel supply.
Under the new directive, the transport sector may also benefit from emergency interventions, including targeted fuel subsidies for public transportation, temporary suspension or reduction of toll charges, and adjustments to aviation-related fees. Government support for vulnerable individuals affected by rising costs is also expected to be accelerated.
The Philippines remains one of Asia’s most energy-cost-sensitive economies and depends heavily on imported fuel to power its electricity sector.
Coal currently accounts for about 60 percent of the country’s electricity generation, making it the dominant source of power across the archipelago of more than 116 million people.
Earlier on Tuesday, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said soaring prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have forced the country to temporarily rely more on coal to stabilise electricity prices.
“We have engaged generation companies operating coal-fired plants to assess how much additional output they can provide,” Garin said, noting that the emergency measure could begin as early as April 1.
According to her, increasing coal generation is intended to soften the impact of higher electricity tariffs linked to the Middle East crisis.
The government is also exploring ways to maximise domestic coal use while keeping open the option of increasing imports from Indonesia, the Philippines’ largest coal supplier.
Garin said Indonesian authorities have assured Manila that coal exports remain unrestricted.
“There’s no restriction on our importation of coal from Indonesia as of today,” she stated, adding that additional imports may not be immediately necessary.
In a longer-term effort to improve energy security, President Marcos earlier this year announced a significant natural gas discovery near the country’s ageing Malampaya Gas Field offshore field.
The discovery is expected to help extend the lifespan of Malampaya, which currently supplies around 40 percent of electricity demand in Luzon, the country’s main economic island, but is projected to decline within the next few years.
With global energy markets under pressure, Manila’s latest move signals a determined effort to shield households and industries from further price shocks while keeping power supply stable.
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