Philippines declares national emergency over Middle East war following fuel crisis

Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a national energy emergency in the Philippines, warning that the ongoing Middle East conflict poses a serious threat to the countrys fuel supply and energy stability.In an executive order issued Tuesday, the government said: 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 countrys energy supply.The move comes as global energy markets are disrupted by the war, affecting gas shipments and increasing fuel costs.Under the emergency measures, the Department of Energy Philippines is authorised to secure fuel supplies through advance payments and take action against hoarding and profiteering. The order stated the declaration would allow authorities to implement responsive and coordinated measures to address the risks posed by disruptions in the global energy supply and the domestic economy.The government is also empowering transport authorities to introduce fuel subsidies, reduce toll charges, and ease aviation-related costs to cushion the impact on citizens. Earlier, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the country would temporarily increase reliance on coal-fired power plants as liquefied natural gas prices surge.She explained: We talked to the generation companies to check how much they can increase their generation, describing the shift as a temporary measure. The Philippines, which relies on imports for much of its energy needs, currently generates about 60 percent of its electricity from coal.Officials are also considering increasing coal imports from Indonesia, though Garin noted there are currently no restrictions on supply. She added the strategy could help stabilise electricity prices: At least we can decrease the electricity rate hikes because of the conflict in the Middle East.The emergency declaration highlights the countrys vulnerability to global energy shocks, even as it explores long-term solutions such as new natural gas discoveries near the Malampaya field, which supplies a significant portion of power to Luzon.The post Philippines declares national emergency over Middle East war following fuel crisis appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.