Crisis response package pushed

HOUSE SPEAKER Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III on Monday ordered several congressional panels to hold joint hearings to craft a package of bills aimed at mitigating the effects of rising pump prices caused by the US and Israel’s war on Iran.

He said top government officials will attend the congressional hearings to brief congressmen on the socioeconomic effects of the Iran war, providing lawmakers with information to help them craft legislation responsive to the conflict.

“We cannot control what happens outside the country, but we can control how we respond to these challenges,” Mr. Dy said in a statement in Filipino.

Efforts to rein in surging fuel prices have prompted lawmakers to push for sweeping reforms, including proposals to suspend fuel taxes and a review of a 1998 law that deregulated the oil industry.

The House Ways and Means, Economic Affairs, Energy, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, and Transportation committees, among others, will lead the joint congressional hearing, according to the statement.

“We want to hear directly from our economic managers and frontline agencies so we have the information we need to come up with measures that can help our people cope with the impact of the Middle East conflict,” Mr. Dy said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio