MARAMING SALAMAT SENATOR WIN, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, INVITED GUESTS – MAGANDANG UMAGA.
BAGO PA MAN ANG LUMALALANG TENSYON AT POSIBLENG SIGALOT SA MIDDLE EAST, KAPANSIN-PANSIN NA ANG MATINDING PINANSYAL NA PASANIN NA DINARANAS NG KARANIWANG PAMILYANG PILIPINO. LALO PANG HUMIGPIT ANG KANILANG BADYET, AT LUMILIIT ANG KAKAYAHAN NA MATUGUNAN ANG MGA PANGUNAHING PANGANGAILANGAN. MARAMI NA ANG NAHIHIRAPAN SA PAGTUSTOS NG PAGKAIN, AT SA PAGBAYAD NG MGA PANGUNAHING GASTUSIN TULAD NG KURYENTE, PAMASAHE, AT MATRIKULA.
KINAKABOG NA ANG BAWAT PAMILYANG PILIPINO.
SA PAGDINIG NA ITO, KAILANGAN NATIN ITANONG: PAANO NATIN GAGAMITIN ANG KRISIS BILANG PAGKAKATAON UPANG ITAMA AT PALAKASIN ANG MATAGAL NG NANGHIHINANG SISTEMA?
DESPITE THE PHILIPPINES’ ABUNDANCE IN NATURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES, NANANATILING MABABA ANG ATING ANTAS NG SELF-SUFFICIENCY SA PAGKAIN AT SA ENERHIYA.
ON FOOD, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY DATA SHOWS THAT DOMESTIC PRODUCTION REMAINS UNEVEN AND INSUFFICIENT. IN 2025, CROPS AND POULTRY GREW BY 10% AND 9%, BUT LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES DECLINED BY 2.2% AND 2.5%, INCLUDING A SHARP DROP IN GALUNGGONG AT 11.6%. THIS CONTINUES TO CREATE GAPS IN SUPPLY AND RELIANCE ON IMPORTS.
ON ENERGY, THE PHILIPPINES REMAINS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON IMPORTED COAL AND OIL—WITH MORE THAN HALF OF ITS ENERGY SUPPLY COMING FROM IMPORTS—MAKING THE COUNTRY PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO GLOBAL ENERGY PRICE SHOCKS, DESPITE ITS SIGNIFICANT RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL.
SA MADALING SALITA, NAKAASA ANG PANG ARAW-ARAW NATING BUHAY SA MGA SISTEMANG HINDI NATIN GANAP NA KONTROLADO.
AS WITH ALL CRISES, THIS ONE HURTS THE POOR THE MOST.
KUNG TUMIGIL SILA SA PAGSASAKA, PANGHUHULI NG ISDA, O PAGPAPASADA, O KAYA’Y PAGTATRABAHO SA MIDDLE EAST, MADALING ISIPIN KUNG ANO ANG MANGYAYARI SA TAHANAN AT NEGOSYONG PILIPINO.
THIS IS WHY (THE) PROTECT COMMITTEE WAS CREATED: PARA HINDI LANG TAYO REACTIVE, KUNDI PROACTIVE SA HARAP NG KRISIS NA ITO. PAG NAG DOBLE NA ANG HALAGA NG KRUDO SA ATING MERKADO, SA LOOB LAMANG NG ISANG BUWAN AT KALAHATI KRISIS NA TAYO.
OUR MANDATE IS CLEAR: TO DEVELOP A CLEAR, COORDINATED, AND COMPREHENSIVE CONTINGENCY PLANS THAT PREVENTS STAGFLATION AND PROTECTS FOOD, ENERGY, JOBS, AND DAILY LIFE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE.
IN THIS HEARING, WE WILL LOOK AT SHORT TERM MEASURES SUCH AS SUBSIDIES TO CUSHION PRICES, MEDIUM TERM REFORMS TO FIX VALUE CHAINS AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, AND LONG TERM STRATEGIES TO MAKE OUR ECONOMY TRULY SUFFICIENT AND SHOCK RESILIENT.
PERO WALANG SAYSAY ANG KAHIT ANONG AUSTERITY MEASURES KUNG NANATILI ANG KORAPSYON. KAPAG PINIGIL ANG PANGUNGURAKOT, AS PER COA MAY TRILYON – UULITIN KO, TRILYONG PISO ANG MAPUPUNTA SA PAGKAIN, ENERHIYA, AT KABUHAYAN BAWAT TAON.
THIS COMMITTEE AND THESE HEARINGS ARE MEANT NOT ONLY TO PREVENT THE SUFFERING THAT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE OUR PEOPLE OR THE NEAR COLLAPSE OF THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY, BUT TO TURN IT AROUND — TO BUILD FOOD AND ENERGY SYSTEMS. MGA SISTEMANG MAS EPISYENTE, MAS MAKATAO, AT MAS MAKATARUNGAN.
MARAMING SALAMAT MR. CHAIR.