By CESAR JOLITO III
The People’s Coalition for Good Governance (PCGG) issued an urgent appeal for swift government intervention as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens to push oil prices higher and deepen the economic strain on Filipino workers and consumers.
PCGG convenor Wennie Sancho warned that rising fuel costs linked to the war could ripple through food, transport and basic commodities, worsening the cost-of-living crisis.
He called on citizens to be vocal and persistent in raising complaints, saying public pressure is necessary to prompt decisive action.
“Systems do not move unless people speak up,” Sancho said, stressing that economic security should not be placed on hold while authorities wait for directives from higher offices.
The coalition urged national leaders to act “swiftly and decisively,” proposing the temporary suspension of non-essential legislative proceedings, including impeachment hearings, to prioritize economic safeguards.
PCGG also recommended the creation of a National Crisis Committee and the immediate mobilization of national and local price monitoring councils to work with local government units in protecting food and energy security.
Citing assessments from conflict analysts, PCGG said the Middle East war risks becoming a prolonged conflict of attrition, with sustained disruptions in oil supply likely to drive repeated price hikes.
Sancho warned that the poor and vulnerable will bear the brunt of these shocks if preventive measures are delayed.
“If the conflict drags on, hunger and poverty become real possibilities,” he said, adding that silence and inaction could perpetuate injustice.
PCGG appealed for urgent government intervention to cushion households from further economic fallout and maintain stability before the impact becomes irreversible.
Sancho warned that a prolonged war could have “catastrophic consequences” for the global economy, with ripple effects that may lead to job losses and reduced household purchasing power.
He urged the government to immediately roll out protective measures for vulnerable sectors, including strengthening job-retention programs through wage subsidies and skills training, expanding unemployment assistance, and providing cash aid — either one-time or periodic — to low-income households.
Sancho also called for tighter price controls on essential goods to prevent hoarding and profiteering, alongside expanded food security programs to ensure access to affordable staples.
Fuel prices are expected to climb in the coming weeks as markets react to the geopolitical crisis./CJ, WDJ