The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill creating a permanent national response system that can be activated during fuel price surges, energy supply disruptions, and other major economic shocks.
Voting 294 in favor, three against, with no abstentions, lawmakers passed House Bill No. 9305, or the proposed Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo at Goods Assistance Act, also known as the KALINGA Act.
The measure, principally authored by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, seeks to replace ad hoc relief efforts with a coordinated framework for emergency aid, subsidies, supply protection, and economic support.
Under the bill, the President may declare a national energy emergency when global crude oil prices remain high for a sustained period, domestic fuel prices sharply increase, or national fuel inventories fall below critical levels.
Once activated, the framework would allow temporary measures to stabilize prices, protect vulnerable sectors, preserve essential services, secure supply chains, and reduce the impact of external shocks on households and businesses.
“These are no longer isolated or temporary disruptions. Fuel and energy shocks now have immediate effects on food prices, transport costs, electricity rates, jobs and household incomes,” Marcos said.
“This measure ensures that government already has a standing legal framework to respond quickly, decisively and in a coordinated manner during times of crisis,” he added.
Proposed interventions include targeted cash aid, fuel subsidies, transport assistance, food vouchers, electricity subsidies, MSME support, agriculture and fisheries assistance, emergency financing, logistics support, and strategic fuel reserve mechanisms.
Priority beneficiaries include low-income households, minimum wage earners, displaced workers, public transport drivers and operators, delivery riders, farmers, fisherfolk, logistics providers, MSMEs, overseas Filipino workers, and other vulnerable groups.
The bill also authorizes emergency procurement, fuel inventory monitoring, contingency supply planning, concessional credit programs, crop and fisheries support, temporary regulatory relief, and energy conservation measures.
To reduce leakages, the measure requires verified beneficiary registries, interoperable digital databases, digital payment systems, and automated validation platforms for distributing aid and subsidies.
It also creates the KALINGA National Response Council, chaired by the Executive Secretary and composed of key Cabinet officials, to oversee emergency operations, coordinate agency responses, monitor implementation, and recommend the declaration or lifting of a national energy emergency.
All emergency spending and interventions under the bill would be subject to transparency rules, congressional oversight, and Commission on Audit review.
Marcos said the proposal aims to shift the government from reactive crisis management to long-term preparedness.
“The government should not merely be scrambling for solutions every time a global fuel crisis hits. We must already have systems in place to stabilize supply chains, protect livelihoods and ensure that assistance reaches affected Filipinos immediately,” Marcos said.
The bill comes amid recurring geopolitical tensions and global oil market volatility, which continue to affect fuel prices, transport costs, food prices, and household expenses in the Philippines.