The House of Representatives is moving swiftly to complete a package of measures aimed at easing the impact of rising fuel prices, with proposed legislation expected to be ready by the time Congress resumes session on May 4.
At the center of the push is the Legislative Energy Action Development (LEAD) Council, a multi-committee body tasked with crafting both immediate relief and long-term reforms as oil prices continue to climb amid tensions in the Middle East.
Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means and serves as presiding officer of the LEAD Council, said lawmakers are using the session break to accelerate work on the proposals so concrete measures can be rolled out as soon as Congress reconvenes.
He said legislators have continued to hold extended and back-to-back hearings even during the break, which began on March 21, to fast-track measures that will address both the current fuel price shock and the country’s long-term exposure to volatile global oil markets.
Among the key proposals under consideration are incentives designed to promote cleaner and more sustainable transport, particularly the wider use of electric vehicles. Quimbo said lawmakers are studying a new vehicle program that would encourage EV adoption not only in government but also in the broader market through tax perks and other incentives that would not require direct cash subsidies from the state.
Beyond EV use, the House is also looking at ways to build a stronger policy environment for private sector investment in emerging industries such as battery manufacturing and other alternatives to fossil fuels.
The LEAD Council, which brings together 13 House committees, is serving as the main platform for the chamber’s coordinated response to the fuel crisis. Lawmakers said the goal is to deliver a mix of short-term relief and structural reforms that can help cushion Filipino consumers from rising pump prices while steering the country toward a more resilient and sustainable energy future.