Nazal beats majority bloc to filing ‘Bayanihan 3’ bill; eyes automatic relief during energy crises

Amid plans from the House majority bloc to pursue a “Bayanihan 3” measure and provide relief to fuel cost-weary Filipinos, a congressman from the minority bloc did just that. Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal has filed House Bill (HB) No. 8821, or the proposed “National Energy Emergency Relief and Protection Act,” which establishes a standing legal framework for ready-to-roll assistance. Nazal says this “Bayanihan-style” bill eliminates the need to craft emergency measures from scratch during every crisis. The assistant minority leader says it is automatically activated upon the declaration of a national energy emergency to protect Filipino families, workers, and key sectors. Nazal announced the filing of HB No.8821 ahead of planned joint hearings from a combination of 13 House committees next week for the purpose of drawing up an emergency response measure. Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Miro Quimbo says the resulting legislature is likely to be a Bayanihan 3, to be loosely patterned to the first two Bayanihan law enacted in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nazal noted the country is already feeling the impact of volatile fuel prices driven by tensions in the Middle East. Thus, he underscored the need for automatic relief once a national energy emergency is declared. “The Philippines is confronting an energy shock with immediate consequences for transport costs, food distribution, business operations, and household welfare,” the party-list solon said in the bill’s explanatory note. He said the measure complements existing executive actions by providing a permanent statutory backbone for crisis response. “This bill does not duplicate that executive action. It provides what only legislation can firmly establish: a standing statutory framework for automatic relief, market stabilization, logistics continuity, labor protection, and targeted public support during any declared national energy emergency,” Nazal explained. “Ito ay isang praktikal na panukalang batas para sa mahihirap na panahon (It’s a practical bill during these trying times),” he said. What kind of relief to expect? Modeled after the pandemic-era Bayanihan laws but tailored for energy-related disruptions, the bill recognizes how fuel shocks ripple across the economy. “In plain terms, a fuel shock does not stop at the pump. It spills into fares, food, electricity, logistics, and the cost of keeping businesses open,” Nazal said. The measure provides a comprehensive package of financial assistance, livelihood support, and cost-of-living protections for vulnerable households and workers. It also proposes a P100-billion Energy Emergency Relief Fund and creates a multi-agency council to oversee implementation and ensure accountability. Under the bill, qualified low-income families will receive emergency cash aid equivalent to at least two weeks of the regional minimum wage, along with targeted cash transfers and food support. Displaced workers will be entitled to assistance equivalent to at least one month of the regional minimum wage, plus access to emergency employment, retraining, and livelihood programs. To prevent layoffs, the measure establishes a wage subsidy program covering 50 percent to 100 percent of workers’ wages for up to three months. Employers are also encouraged to adopt flexible work arrangements such as work-from-home, staggered hours, and employer-provided transport. The bill mandates automatic financial relief for households once an energy emergency is declared. These include a 60-day grace period on loans without penalties, a 60-day rent grace period with an eviction ban, and at least a 30-day grace period on utility bills with no disconnections or late fees. A temporary moratorium on foreclosures and repossessions will also be enforced, covering residential properties and livelihood assets. The measure also provides fuel subsidies, fare relief, and transport support to protect commuters and transport workers. It strengthens anti-inflation safeguards through intensified price monitoring, anti-hoarding enforcement, and strategic buffer stocking of essential goods. “Industries that are exporting should be part of the so-called essential industries in order not to stop the influx ot foreign currencies,” Nazal said, pointing out the need to protect our Philippine peso. Nazal said the bill also aims to ensure continuity of livelihoods, essential services, and supply chains during energy disruptions.