Senator Legarda files Bayanihan 3 bill to address PH energy crisis

Senator Loren Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 2020, also known as the “Bayanihan 3: Power to the People Act,” to help resolve the fuel crisis.

This emergency measure addresses the 2026 global oil crisis by providing relief to vulnerable sectors and stabilizing energy costs.

“Ang Bayanihan 3 ay naglalayong tugunan ang hirap na dinaranas ngayon ng mga Pilipino—lalo na ang mga jeepney driver, magsasaka, mangingisda, manggagawa, at mga pamilyang umaasa sa araw araw na kita,” Legarda said.

A salient feature of the measure is its two-tiered approach. It separates:

• Section 5: immediately executable emergency directives, and

• Section 6: directives that require rapid assessment before implementation.

This design allows the government to act at once where it already has the authority and systems in place.

At the same time, the government can seriously studying and preparing more complex reforms that still need legal, fiscal, or operational groundwork.

The key provisions of the bill include:

• Immediate relief: Fuel subsidies of ₱5,000 to ₱10,000 for PUV drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk, alongside toll exemptions for essential food transport;

• Energy costs: Authorization to reduce or suspend excise taxes and VAT on petroleum, and a mandate for the ERC to defer electricity payments without interest or penalties;

• Transparency: Stricter requirements for oil companies to disclose pricing and supply data to prevent profiteering;

• Food security: Creation of priority food cargo lanes and the use of public lands for community farming, and

• Sustainability: Accelerated procurement of renewable energy systems for critical facilities and energy conservation mandates for the government.

The bill utilizes a two-tiered approach, allowing for the immediate execution of certain directives while requiring a 30-day rapid assessment for more complex legal and fiscal reforms.

“Simple lang ang gusto natin, kung may bawas sa buwis, dapat ramdam agad sa presyo sa gasolinahan; kung may tulong sa kuryente, dapat mabawasan ang bigat ng binabayaran kada buwan,” Legarda said.

“Hindi dapat pahirapan ang mga tao sa panahong gipit na nga. Kailangang maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino ang ginhawa sa mismong bulsa,” she added.

Senator Legarda emphasized that while these emergency powers are time-bound and subject to strict oversight, they are essential for long-term national resilience.

-Paraluman News