SENATE minority leader Franklin Drilon yesterday cautioned lawmakers against rushing a review of the oil deregulation law, which he said is a “major policy shift that needs to be weighed carefully.”
Drilon said the best time to discuss the issue is next Congress under the next administration.
“To carry out a major policy shift in the twilight of the Duterte administration will tie the hands of the next administration. The proposal of the outgoing administration to revisit the country’s oil deregulation law is a major policy shift that needs to be weighed carefully,” Drilon said.
Drilon made the remark after President Duterte called on Congress to review the country’s oil deregulation law and grant the government the authority to intervene when there is a spike in oil prices and to revisit the provisions on unbundling oil price and the inclusion of the minimum inventory requirements of law.
Drilon said that while he is open to a review of the oil deregulation law to find out long-term solutions to cushion the impact of rising oil prices, calling Congress for a special session at this time when most are busy in the campaign, the decision of lawmakers might be influenced.
“A special session may be called. However, I do not think we can expect a thorough review and discussion given that it is election season. The debates may instead be influenced by politics,” Drilon added.
To soften the impact of high fuel costs, Drilon said the government should hasten the implementation and distribution of the P2.5-billion allocation in the 2022 national budget for financial subsidy and fuel vouchers to qualified utility vehicle taxis, tricycle, and full-time ride-hailing and deliver services drivers nationwide.
“We call for the immediate distribution of fuel subsidies. Our drivers are struggling… We must come to their aid as quickly as we can,” he said.
He said a shift in major policy decision has never been done when a sitting president is about to step down. Duterte’s term will end on June 30 this year.
