SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go said that he is open to proposals of amending the Oil Deregulation Law if it will help the Filipino people, particularly poor and vulnerable sectors, cope with the rising global oil prices.

“Ako, pabor po ako na kung kailangan na amyendahan ngayon (ang batas) dahil tumataas po ‘yung presyo ng krudo, we have to sacrifice…meaning eh magsasakripisyo tayo ng mahigit 100 bilyon,” said Go during an ambush interview after his monitoring visit of the Malasakit Center at the Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Wednesday, November 3.

Go bemoaned the fact that rising oil prices disproportionately harm the poor, and suggested that amending the law may alleviate the burden.

“Eh kailangan ho nating magsakripisyo dahil ang apektado po dito ‘yung mga mahihirap po,” he said.

“Hindi naman po mayayaman ang apektado dito, kung kailangan i-amend, pabor po ako diyan,” Go added.

Energy prices are rising from record lows reached in 2020 as national economies gradually reopen with the relaxation of restrictions almost two years after the start of the pandemic.

Following a jump in the third quarter, the World Bank anticipates that global oil prices will remain high until 2022, adding to inflationary pressures in countries like the Philippines, which rely entirely on imported oil.

Energy prices are predicted to be significantly higher in 2021 than in 2020, and to remain at that level until the first half of 2022.

“Itong mga gasolina at krudo, ginagamit po sa transportasyon, sila po ang apektado dito… we have to adjust and we have to sacrifice… para sa mga mahihirap po, gawin po natin,” explained the senator.

Earlier, Go has welcomed the decision of the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee, composed of the Office of the President, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, and the National Economic and Development Authority, to grant fuel subsidies to public utility drivers who are affected by the increasing world oil prices.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanilang mabilis na pagtugon sa panawagan natin. Alam naman po natin na sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, sabay ring tumataas ang presyo ng pangunahing bilihin. Pabigat po ito lalo na sa mga karaniwang Pilipino, lalo na’t may pandemya. Kaya naman malaki po ang maitutulong ng subsidiyang ito upang kahit papaano ay maibsan ang suliraning ito,” he earlier said.

In a joint statement, the DBCC stated that it is “committed to support our transportation sector, amidst the increasing oil prices.”

To address the burden imposed by the increasing oil prices on the public, the government will release PhP1 billion to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to provide cash grants to around 178,000 bonafide PUV drivers for the remaining months of the year.

These will be distributed using the system established under the Pantawid Pasada Program of the LTFRB.

“Kasabay ng paglaban natin sa COVID-19, patuloy rin nating pinupuksa ang hirap at gutom na nararamdaman ng marami sa ating mga kababayan. Walang Pilipino ang dapat mapag-iwanan sa ating muling pagbangon bilang isang mas matatag na bansa,” he added.

Go believes that by giving these benefits, the government will be able to help Filipinos cope with economic and financial burdens.

“Maliban sa mga karaniwang commuters, makakatulong din ito sa pag-kontrol sa posibleng pagtaas sa presyo ng mga pagkain at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan na nakasalalay sa mga byahero mula sa mga producers papunta sa mga palengke at consumers,” he said.

“Sa panahon po ng krisis, gawin natin ang lahat para maibsan ang pinapasan ng ating mga kababayan. Bawat buhay po ay pinapahalagahan natin lalo na ‘yung mga walang ibang matakbuhan. Sila po ang prayoridad natin dito, kapakanan nila ang ipinaglalaban ko rito,” he added.

Prior to the monitoring visit, Go also attended the launch of the 147th Malasakit Center in the country at the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital in Culion, Palawan. He also gave relief assistance to 4,000 Palawan locals hit by the pandemic.

Go was declared an “adopted son of Puerto Princesa” by the City Council in July 2020 in appreciation of his efforts to help citizens affected by previous natural disasters.