Senate ready for special session addressing oil crisis-- Senate President Sotto

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said that the Senate is prepared to hold a special session during its break to address challenges arising from the global oil crisis.

This statement was made after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. placed the country under a state of national energy emergency and directed the rollout of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) to assist affected sectors.

Sotto told reporters he expects senators to attend if Malacañang calls for a special session. “All legislators are expected to respond to any special session the President may call,” the Senate President said.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are currently on a session break and are set to resume on May 4.

With the implementation of UPLIFT, the government is activating a whole-of-government approach aimed at stabilizing energy supply, supporting critical sectors such as transport, agriculture, and MSMEs, and shielding Filipinos from the impact of global oil supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.

Senator Robin Padilla said in his Facebook page that he cut short his trip after Sotto told him that there may be a session if the President calls for one.