BBM Vlog on Feb. 1, 2026. Screen grabbed from Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr’s video/Facebook.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to formally ask Congress for emergency powers that would allow the government to temporarily reduce excise taxes on petroleum products amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Malacañang said the Department of Energy (DOE) would submit the request to lawmakers on behalf of the President as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising global oil prices.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the agency had been coordinating with Congress and was expected to transmit the request at the start of the week.
She said the formal proposal would be submitted on Monday as discussions between the executive branch and legislators continued.
Marcos earlier said he was prepared to use emergency powers to lower the excise tax on fuel if global oil prices reach or exceed USD 80 per barrel.
The proposed tax adjustment would be temporary and would still require approval from Congress before it could take effect.
Aside from the excise tax plan, the President also pushed for amendments to the Biofuels Act of 2006 to allow the use of cheaper bioethanol in fuel blends.
The government earlier warned motorists to prepare for possible increases in pump prices, with gasoline projected to rise by Php 7.48 per liter, diesel by Php 17.28 per liter, and kerosene by Php 32.35 per liter.