MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national energy emergency to address issues caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

This announcement, made through Executive Order (EO) 110 and shared with reporters on Tuesday evening, came 24 hours after Palace Press Officer Claire Castro insisted that the country is not yet experiencing an oil crisis but is instead facing a “price disruption.”

“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 country’s energy supply,” the order read.

The government adopts the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) as a coordinated, whole-of-government response framework aimed at ensuring stable domestic energy supply, uninterrupted essential services, and continued economic activity and protecting the welfare of the citizens, especially in vulnerable sectors.

This framework includes energy supply management measures to be implemented by the Department of Energy and its attached agencies.

• Executive Secretary

• Secretary, Department of Energy

• Secretary, Department of Transportation

• Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development

• Secretary, Department of Agriculture

• Secretary, Department of Finance

• Secretary, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)

• Secretary, Department of Budget and Management

DEPDev shall serve as the Secretariat of the Committee and provide the essential technical and administrative support.

Among its functions are monitoring and ensuring the continued and orderly movement, supply, distribution, and availability of fuel, food, medicines, agricultural products, and other essential goods; checking the continuity of the operation of public transportation, public services, public utilities, healthcare facilities, and other critical establishments and infrastructure; and safeguarding economic stability while protecting vulnerable sectors from adverse impacts and severe disruptions caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

It is also mandated to ensure the timely, efficient, unhampered delivery of public services; formulate longer-term demand-side solutions and strategies to decrease consumption of petroleum products; constitute subcommittees as may be necessary, and invite other departments to support the effective implementation of EO 110.

Furthermore, the DOE was directed and authorized to take appropriate measures to protect the stability and adequacy of the country’s energy supply and cushion the adverse effects of disruptions in global energy supply markets.

These may include the implementation of fuel and energy optimization plans, the adoption and enforcement of energy conservation efforts, and action against hoarding, profiteering, and supply manipulation, among others.

The DOE may also direct the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), PNOC Exploration Corporation, and other attached agencies to assist in maintaining stability in the domestic fuel and energy supply.

EO 110 also states that the Department of Transportation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Migrant Workers, Philippine National Police, DOF, and DBM shall carry out their respective mandates to mitigate the effects of energy-related emergencies.

Local government units and the private sector are likewise encouraged to actively support the government in implementing these measures.