March 24, 2026 | 10:14 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, declared a national energy emergency in response to the Middle East conflict and what he called "a threat to the country’s energy security." This makes the Philippines the first country to declare a state of emergency due to the global fuel crisis caused by the Israel-US war on Iran.
As reported by The Edge, Marcos said a committee has been formed to ensure the orderly movement, supply, distribution, and availability of fuel, food, medicines, agricultural products, and other essential goods.
In an executive order distributed to the media, Marcos stated that the conflict had created uncertainty in the global energy market, severe supply chain disruptions, and significant volatility and pressure on international oil prices.
"The declaration of a state of national energy emergency will enable the government...to implement responsive and coordinated measures under existing laws to address the risks posed by disruptions in the global energy supply and the domestic economy," he said.
The declaration, which will be in effect for one year, empowers the government to procure the fuel and petroleum products necessary to ensure a timely and adequate supply, and if necessary, to pay a portion of the contract amounts in advance.
Philippine Energy Minister Sharon Garin said in a press conference on Tuesday morning that the country currently has a fuel supply for about 45 days based on current consumption levels.
She said the government is working to secure one million barrels of oil from countries within and outside Southeast Asia to build its oil reserves.
Several hours earlier, Marcos said that some countries "already told our airlines they cannot fuel their aircraft."
As reported by Anadolu, he said that the grounding of aircraft is "a distinct possibility" given the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, which has disrupted energy supplies in the Middle East.
"Several countries have already told our airlines they cannot fuel their aircraft, so they have to carry fuel there and back. The long haul is going to be a much more serious problem," Marcos told Bloomberg on Tuesday.
Regarding the possibility of Philippine aircraft being grounded, Marcos said, "We're hoping not, but it’s a distinct possibility."
Conflict in the Middle East has escalated since the US and Israel's attacks on Iran began on February 28. Iran has retaliated with repeated drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting US military assets.
Tehran has also controlled the vital global oil transportation route, the Strait of Hormuz, through which most of Asia's energy supplies pass to reach the majority of Asian countries.
Read: Philippine Transport Workers to Stage Mass Protest Over Fuel Prices
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