Marcos places the country under an energy emergency

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency, as oil supply tightened and pump prices soared nearly 100 per cent.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) last Tuesday, March 24, 2026, for the rollout of fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers. Photo from PCO.

Manuel Mogato | March 26, 2026

Manila — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency, as oil supply tightened and pump prices soared nearly 100 per cent.

At least 400 local petrol stations stopped selling fuel, and a major carrier has reduced international routes as the country’s reserves fell below 45 days until May.

Marcos issued Executive Order No. 110, placing the country in “a state of national energy emergency” 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”.

Marcos said the “national energy emergency” will be in effect for up to a year. It could be extended or lifted earlier.

In the same EO 110, Marcos unveiled a program called “Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport” to “safeguard national interest” by “mitigating the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.”

He also created a UPLIFT committee to ensure a stable domestic energy supply, delivery of essential services, economic activity, and welfare of the most vulnerable sectors. (Also read: Stratbase survey: Gov’t should address food prices, corruption, create more jobs amid oil price surge)

The composition of the UPLIFT Committee includes: the executive secretary, the energy secretary, the transportation secretary, the social welfare secretary, the agriculture secretary, the finance secretary, the budget secretary, and the secretary of economy, planning, and development.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) will serve as the committee’s secretariat.

As the conflict in the Middle East entered its fourth week, exchanges of ballistic missiles and drones escalated, targeting civilian infrastructure, as well as oil and gas sites in the Persian Gulf. (Also read: US insists the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities.)

Iran has also blocked passage in the Strait of Hormuz, where over 20 million barrels of oil and gas once passed through daily.