Sen. Mark Villar has filed a measure seeking to cushion vulnerable sectors from rising fuel prices, warning that sustained energy costs could deepen poverty and strain small businesses nationwide.
Senate Bill No. 2032, or the Relief and Recovery Interventions for Low-Income Earners, Minimum Wage Earners, Self-Earning Individuals, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (RELIEF) Act, aims to provide targeted assistance to workers and enterprises most affected by fuel-driven inflation.
The proposal follows a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), which projected that continued fuel price increases could push up to 3.1 million Filipinos into poverty due to higher costs of goods and services.
Business groups have also warned that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) may face operational challenges if fuel prices remain elevated, given their reliance on transportation and logistics.
Under the bill, eligible sectors would be granted relief measures such as grace periods for rent and loan payments, penalty-free loan restructuring, flexible tax filing and compliance deadlines, and expanded access to credit assistance programs.
Villar said the measure is designed to provide immediate and practical support to sectors with limited capacity to absorb economic shocks, particularly amid ongoing inflationary pressures.
“Sa panahon ng krisis, mahalaga ang mabilis at konkretong aksyon. Kailangan nating maglatag ng matibay na social safety net na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan—hindi lang ngayon, kundi sa mga susunod pang hamon,” Villar said.
He added that the bill aims to help individuals and small enterprises recover and remain competitive despite rising costs.
“Layunin nating tulungan ang ating mga kababayan at maliliit na negosyo na makabangon at makasabay sa gitna ng tumataas na presyo at krisis sa enerhiya,” he said.