Probe Russia-Ukraine war impact on power security – senator

The Senate should look into the short, medium and long-term impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Philippine energy security and affordability of gasoline as pump prices soar, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

In filing Senate Resolution 78, he noted the need for Congress to look into the impact of the ongoing war to the Philippines.

“There is a need for Congress to be apprised of the short, medium and longterm effects and implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Philippine economy; in particular, the country’s oil supply and the effects of the continuous elevated global oil and coal prices on domestic oil and petroleum products,” Gatchalian said.

He added that the Filipino people are already burdened with the increases in prices of petroleum products and basic commodities.

“Filipinos can no longer afford the continuous increases in the price of petroleum products, which has also caused an increase in the prices of basic commodities,” he pointed out.

Gatchalian said the drastic increase in global oil and coal prices has reverberated across the domestic market with local pump prices experiencing consecutive weekly increases.

He took note of the 22 percent increase in gasoline prices to P77.71 per liter in May from P63.58 per liter in January as well as that of diesel pump prices, which soared by 49 percent to P75.92 per liter in May from P50.95 per liter in January.

During the same period, Gatchalian said many PUV drivers opted not to ply their usual routes while provincial buses and taxis were operating only at 20 to 30 percent capacity, which led to a severe lack of available public transportation.

As chairman of the Senate committee on energy during the previous Congress, Gatchalian conducted a hearing to seek specific solutions and programs from the Department of Energy and relevant government agencies to mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the country’s oil supply and prices.