Marcos Declares National Energy Emergency Amid Middle East War; Plane Groundings Possible
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency through Executive Order No. 110 due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. He warned that plane groundings are a "distinct possibility" for Philippine airlines due to jet fuel shortages, with some countries already refusing to refuel aircraft. To bolster local stockpiles, the government is allotting P20 billion for the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) to purchase up to 2 million barrels of diesel.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency on March 24, 2026, through Executive Order No. 110, in response to energy challenges stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict. The declaration activates the "UPLIFT" Whole-of-Government Response Framework to coordinate a unified national effort addressing the crisis. The order was distributed to the press on Tuesday evening amid concerns over potential disruptions like plane groundings, though specific details on groundings are not explicitly confirmed in available reports. The crisis stems from the US-Israeli war with Iran disrupting Middle East oil supplies, which highly exposes the Philippinesâwhich relies heavily on imported crudeâto shortages and price spikes worse than other Southeast Asian nations.
In a March 24 interview, President Marcos warned that grounding planes due to jet fuel shortages is a "distinct possibility" as several countries refuse refueling, forcing airlines to carry extra fuel for round trips and straining long-haul operations. Philippine Airlines (PAL) has not grounded planes but has suspended additional flights to Doha and Dubai until April 30, 2026, citing the ongoing conflict. Cebu Pacific announced temporary suspensions and frequency cuts on international routes from April to October 2026 due to fuel costs more than doubling 2025 averages, with fuel surcharges reaching Level 8 (domestic fares â±787, international up to â±6,208.98 for April 1-15 bookings).
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stated on March 24 that airlines assured the Department of Energy they have sufficient fuel orders after a March 23 meeting, contradicting Marcos' warnings, though she noted potential help with procurement if needed. The executive order authorizes the Department of Energy to take measures safeguarding energy supply stability, including making advance payments of 15 percent to secure fuel contracts. The order was issued as diesel prices were expected to spike above P130 per liter and gasoline above P100 per liter.
To mitigate impacts, the Philippines is importing 100,000 tonnes of Russian ESPO Blend crude via the tanker Sara Sky to Petron's Bataan terminal (expected March 23-25 under a US sanctions waiver until April 11), marking the first such purchase in five years. Marcos certified as urgent a bill granting emergency powers to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes if Dubai crude exceeds $80/barrel for a month, now approved by both Senate and House on final reading. The UPLIFT Committee oversees implementation of the coordinated response framework, consisting of energy supply management measures by the Department of Energy and complementary support measures by concerned agencies including the Department of Transportation and Department of Trade and Industry.
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