THE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill establishing a national emergency response and resiliency framework to shield Filipinos from the effects of global crises, energy shocks and supply disruptions.
Voting 294-3 with no abstentions, lawmakers approved House Bill No. 9305, which institutionalizes the Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo at Goods Assistance (KALINGA) Program and grants the President emergency powers, subject to safeguards and congressional oversight, to protect the economy, secure energy supplies and maintain essential services during emergencies.
The measure was principally authored by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos and co-authored by 146 lawmakers.
Speaker Dy said the KALINGA bill is designed to ensure that ordinary Filipinos do not bear the full burden of crises beyond their control.
“Hindi natin kontrolado ang mga digmaan, geopolitical conflicts o iba pang pandaigdigang krisis. Pero kontrolado natin kung gaano tayo kahanda at kung gaano natin napoprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan mula sa epekto ng mga ito,” Dy said.
“Ang KALINGA ay hindi lamang emergency response program. Isa itong pambansang pananggalang upang hindi agad mabura ng isang pandaigdigang krisis ang pinaghirapan ng mga pamilyang Pilipino, mga manggagawa, mga magsasaka at maliliit na negosyante.”
The Speaker from Isabela said the measure institutionalizes a permanent framework that allows government to respond quickly and decisively during emergencies that threaten economic stability, energy security and the delivery of essential services.
“Ang tunay na sukatan ng mahusay na pamahalaan ay hindi kung paano ito kumikilos kapag maayos ang lahat. Nasusukat ito sa kakayahan nitong protektahan ang mamamayan kapag may krisis. Iyan ang layunin ng KALINGA,” Dy said.
The bill creates a permanent framework for government intervention during national emergencies arising from fuel supply disruptions, global economic shocks, armed conflicts, pandemics and other crises that threaten economic stability and public welfare.
It authorizes the President, upon recommendation of the KALINGA National Response Council, to declare a state of national energy emergency under clearly defined conditions and implement time-bound emergency measures.
Among the interventions provided under the measure are emergency cash assistance, fuel subsidies, electricity bill support, food security measures, assistance to workers and overseas Filipino workers, support for farmers and fisherfolk, and relief programs for micro, small and medium enterprises.
The proposal also authorizes the temporary suspension of value-added and excise taxes on petroleum products during declared emergencies and imposes a 15-percent windfall profit tax on oil companies earning extraordinary profits during such periods.
To strengthen long-term resilience, the bill promotes renewable energy development, energy efficiency programs, electric mobility and other initiatives aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imported fuel.
The measure also creates the KALINGA National Response Council, composed of key Cabinet officials and economic managers, to oversee crisis-response efforts and coordinate government interventions during emergencies.
A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee will monitor the exercise of emergency powers, government spending, procurement activities and the implementation of assistance programs under the proposed law
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