Philippines declares energy emergency state due to Middle East conflict

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The Philippine government on Tuesday became the first country to officially announce a national state of emergency due to disruptions in the global energy supply chain following the conflict in the Middle East region. According to a GMA News report, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed an executive order that formally imposes the state of emergency and activates a national response to restore stability in energy supplies and prevent economic impacts from rising fuel prices. One of the steps taken by the Philippine government to address the energy emergency is to launch the “UPLIFT” programme, a comprehensive support framework for community life, industry, food, and transportation. This measure is aimed at assisting key sectors including transportation, agriculture, and SMEs. Thus, local authorities can mobilise resources more effectively, regulate fuel distribution, and implement targeted assistance programmes for affected groups. The Philippines sources nearly 26 per cent of its national energy needs from the Middle East region, with a total budget spent on Middle East energy in 2024 reaching 16 billion US dollars. Tensions in the Persian Gulf region have escalated since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on 28 February, which has so far reportedly killed around 1,340 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran then retaliated against this military aggression by launching drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, as well as Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Tehran has also taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil supplies, through which the majority of energy supplies for Asian countries must pass. Source: Anadolu