MANILA – Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has expanded to 13 the number of House committees tasked to lead a coordinated legislative response to the oil price crisis linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East, with joint hearings set to begin on April 8 during the congressional break.

Dy earlier said the hearings are intended to strengthen coordination with the Executive branch and generate concrete policy measures.

“The objective of these hearings is to work with our partners in the Executive to identify solutions, not point fingers,” the Speaker said.

“We want to hear directly from our economic managers and frontline agencies, so we have the information we need to come up with measures that can help our people cope with the impact of the Middle East conflict.”

In a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, House Committee on Ways and Means chair and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo said the initial five committees involved were expanded to 13, covering Energy, Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Labor, Transportation, Information and Communications Technology, Economic Affairs, Social Services, Trade and Industry, Overseas Workers Affairs, and Appropriations.

He said the expanded grouping was formalized following an emergency meeting convened by the Speaker with key committee leaders.

“Ang sole purpose is really to have an orchestrated and unified response on the part of the House para harapin at tingnan kung ano ang mga pwede nating magawa (to tackle this and look at what we can do) on an urgent basis so we can address the oil price crisis,” Quimbo said.

Quimbo said the multi-committee body has been tasked to consolidate information and accelerate legislative efforts, including potential funding measures such as a supplemental budget.

“The task is to be able to gather enough information so that we can pass the necessary legislation, whether it is in the form of a supplemental budget,” he said.

He said lawmakers are pursuing a two-pronged approach focused on immediate assistance and strengthening long-term resilience.

“So, particularly on assistance to the affected sectors. And then secondly, it’s really creating a better resiliency,” Quimbo said.

Quimbo emphasized that while the crisis is driven by external factors, the government must take proactive steps.

“This crisis is not at all self-inflicted. It is completely coming from forces beyond our control. But it doesn’t mean that we cannot prepare for it,” he said.

He added that Dy has instructed the House to prioritize solutions over assigning blame as it works toward a comprehensive legislative response.

“So, sabi ni Speaker (the Speaker said), instead of criticizing and fault-finding, finger-pointing, he wants Congress to be able to work out and hammer an entirely comprehensive package to address the immediate needs ng affected sectors,” Quimbo said.

“And then secondly is how do we make government and the economy more resilient so it will not fall down on its knees in the event this happens again.”

Quimbo said preparatory work is ongoing during the session break, with technical meetings already being conducted ahead of the formal hearings.

“We’re going to work throughout the break. Even as we speak now, we have a Zoom meeting with technical people. The first formal meeting of the large committee is on April 8th,” he said.