Biz groups back state of national energy emergency declaration
MANILA – Business groups on Wednesday expressed appreciation for Malacañang’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency, and the measures targeted to help cushion the impact of the Middle East conflict on the domestic economy.
In a statement, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said the declaration, as contained in Executive Order (EO) 110, “is timely and necessary to mitigate the economic impact of the global energy supply disruption driven by the escalating tensions in the Middle East.”
“The PCCI supports any measures of the government to absorb and stabilize the increasing prices of fuel and basic commodities. It has been three weeks since the war started and several increases have already been implemented – now we are seeing its effect – higher costs of logistics, transportation, and goods,” Ferrer said.
Ferrer said the Philippine economy, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), will be greatly impacted if the ongoing conflict extends beyond three months.
“The longer it (conflict) takes, the lesser the chances for our MSMEs to bounce back. We have to understand our MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, comprising of 1.2 million enterprises,” he said.
He also underscored the need to ensure domestic fuel supply for more than 90 days, thus, the call for “consultative and transparent implementation of EO 110 and the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT).
“We should rethink and reset our priorities locally so that our country will not panic in times of crisis. We should learn from our neighboring countries in Asia, like Japan, which has reserves sufficient for eight months,” he said.
Coordinated effort
Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) Chairperson Elizabeth Lee, in turn, said issuance of the EO is “timely and necessary” and that the UPLIFT framework “provides a coordinated approach to cushion industries and communities from global energy shocks.”
She said the current challenges provide a multi-layered pressure for manufacturers, “hitting energy, transport, imported input materials, and production timelines.”
“These pressures are expected under current conditions. Manufacturers are responding with a strong focus on continuity, cost discipline, and resilience. Businesses are built for the long term, and operations are being actively managed to withstand volatility,” she said.
“Firms are prioritizing uninterrupted production while safeguarding workforce stability, even as margins tighten. Mitigation measures are being intensified across operations. These include optimizing production schedules to off-peak energy hours, enhancing workforce flexibility where cross-trained team members adopt flexible roles and responsibilities, and adopting remote work arrangements for non-production functions where feasible,” she added,
Lee said “companies are renegotiating supplier contracts, tightening energy efficiency across production lines through lean manufacturing, and streamlining logistics—such as consolidating shipments and maximizing load efficiency to reduce fuel consumption (co-loading) where applicable.”
This is being one while “accelerating supply chain diversification and deepening local sourcing where viable,” she said.
She said renewable energy adaption “is also gaining ground, with more facilities integrating solutions such as rooftop solar.”
“This crisis magnified our country’s vulnerabilities. Reforms that will deepen and expand local manufacturing as a national imperative will help the Philippines secure resilience, drive job creation, and help better shield the Philippine economy from global energy shocks. Industrial growth at scale—anchored on job creation, innovation, and sustainability—is no longer optional; it is the foundation of a more secure and competitive economy moving forward,” she added. (PNA)
