House Committee on Ways and Means chair and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo said the initiative is being shaped under the direction of Speaker Faustino G. Dy III as part of a broader effort to address the economic impact of rising fuel costs.
“We have not talked about the entire concept of what will be the outcome, but in reality, this is Bayanihan 3. If there’s a key objective here, it is for Congress to hammer out Bayanihan 3,” Quimbo said during a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
The measure will be crafted through joint hearings led by a 13-panel of House committees formed by Speaker Dy to address the impact of the Middle East crisis, namely Energy, Agriculture and Food, 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.
Congress enacted the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which centered on large-scale subsidy programs as lockdowns brought economic activity to a halt.
Quimbo said the current crisis presents a different context and does not require the same level of across-the-board financial assistance.
“The pandemic was really worse as far as we’re concerned because the situation was very indeterminable. We did not know if there would be treatment, vaccination, or how long it could be sustained. Practically then, the entire economy went to a halt. People could not go out, and it really necessitated a massive aid program. The context is different now,” he said.
He stressed that while financial assistance remains part of the plan, it will not be the centerpiece of the proposed measure, in line with the direction set by Speaker Dy.
“If we are talking about aid, this is really just one part of Bayanihan 3. It cannot just be aid-centric. In fact, aid, as far as what the Speaker wants, is not even 15 percent of the entire package,” Quimbo said.
Instead, he said Bayanihan 3 is being positioned as both an immediate response and a platform for long-delayed reforms.
“But unlike past Bayanihans, it’s not just going to be a way to target direct subsidies to those in need. The difference with Bayanihan 3 is that it also provides an opportunity to implement long-needed reforms,” he said.
Quimbo said lawmakers are working to identify sectors that require urgent support and to mobilize available government resources without disrupting existing programs.
“The first task is trying to map out where we can sweep additional funds without affecting current programs,” he said.
He added that any targeted assistance will prioritize sectors most vulnerable to rising fuel costs, particularly transportation, while helping prevent a broader surge in prices.
“The direction is to make sure that whatever aid we provide will ensure prices do not spiral,” Quimbo said.
Beyond short-term relief, Quimbo said the measure will also address long-standing gaps in subsidy delivery and economic resilience.
“I think it’s a wake-up call to us today that we don’t have a clear, electronic, and well-targeted distribution system,” he said, noting plans to develop a digital subsidy system linked to the national ID.
He added that Bayanihan 3 could also accelerate reforms in the energy sector, including support for renewable energy and incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles.
“We want to take this opportunity with Bayanihan 3 as a way by which we can make the country more resilient when it comes to energy,” Quimbo said.
Quimbo said preparatory work is ongoing, with technical discussions underway and the first formal joint committee hearing scheduled for April 8 during the congressional break.
