Salceda: Duterte has ‘moral obligation’ to call for special session amid oil price hikes

It is the moral obligation of President Rodrigo Duterte to call for a special session in Congress amid the continuous increase of prices of fuel products, Albay Representative Joey Salceda said Monday.

"'Yung sagot ko diyan, kailan ba aaray kapag kinukurot? So, tingin ko March 15. We need to draw a line on the sand. If by March 15, still above 100 [dollars a barrel], the President should call for a special session. It is his moral obligation to the people to provide relief because that means almost 75 days of suffering already," Salceda said in a press briefing after the House fuel ad hoc committee inquiry on the oil price hike.

(My response to that is when will we react if we are hurting? So, I think it's March 15.)

"So without relief... any form of relief from the government... so I think it's his moral obligation already to call for a special session," Salceda added.

Aside from the discussion on the suspension of fuel excise tax, House committee on economics affair chairperson Representative Sharon Garin said the oil deregulation law would be tackled as well if a special session will take place.

Garin, for her part, said they do not have any target date for the special session as they do not want to impose on the Executive department.

"Yes if we do ask for a special session, we will include that (oil deregulation law) as one of the legislations to be tackled also," Garin said.

Malacañang has called on Congress to review the oil deregulation law amid the weekly increases in oil prices and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Congress had adjourned session last February 4 and will only resume session by May 23 or after the May 9 national and local elections.

Congress, however, can resume session if President Rodrigo Duterte calls for it.

Earlier, acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said there was no indication that Duterte will call for a special session so Congress can act on measures that will address the unabated oil price hikes, including suspension of fuel tax on oil.

Oil has exceeded $100 a barrel in the last week since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

State of economic emergency

Meanwhile, Salceda also said declaring a state of economic emergency would also hasten the distribution of aid for the sectors affected by the rise in prices of fuel products. 

During the same press conference, it was raised that the documentary requirements for the assistance from the government makes it longer for sectors to obtain the aid.

"Ang pinakamabilis diyan [The fastest way] is for the President to declare a state of economic emergency arising from the fuel crisis and therefore enabling him to use the calamity fund or for local government units to use their calamity funds to provide relief to tricycle drivers, farmers and fisherfolks," Salceda said.— BM, GMA News