ILOILO — The provincial government of Iloilo is studying the possible declaration of a state of calamity as a deepening fuel crisis threatens transport operations, prices, and economic stability across the province.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has directed the Provincial Community Defense Cluster to assess whether conditions warrant emergency powers, signaling the seriousness of the situation as fuel costs continue to rise and public utility vehicles (PUVs) feel the strain.
The move was initiated during a cluster meeting on Wednesday afternoon, March 25, alongside the issuance of Executive Order No. 34-A, which enforces energy and fuel conservation protocols across residential, commercial, industrial, and transport sectors.
The order aligns with Memorandum Circular No. 114, Series of 2026 issued by the Office of the President on March 19.
According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Cornelio Salinas, the province is now consolidating critical data to determine the feasibility of a calamity declaration.
“Ginapa-gather na ni Gov. Defensor ang data kaangay sang affected public utility vehicles (PUVs), presyohanay sang fuel kag balaklon sa province para matan-aw kon may posibility nga mag-declare sang state of calamity,” Salinas said.
Salinas noted that the situation presents a new challenge for disaster authorities, as calamity declarations have traditionally been based on natural hazards such as typhoons, earthquakes, and El Niño.
“Bag-o ini nga sitwasyon bangod nga sa masami kalamidad kasubong sang bagyo, linog kag El Niño phenomenon lamang ang ginabasehan sa pag-declare sang calamity,” he explained.
Cluster members are now coordinating with transport cooperatives and corporations operating in the province to obtain real-time data on the extent of the crisis and its impact on operations.
Should a state of calamity be declared, the provincial government would be allowed to access its Quick Response Fund (QRF), a standby allocation sourced from 30 percent of the total Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) of local government units.
“Once nga ma-declare ang state of calamity, mahimo magamit sang provincial government ang quick response fund (QRF),” Salinas said.
Under National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum Order No. 60, a calamity declaration requires meeting specific criteria, including significant portions of the population needing emergency assistance, major disruption of livelihoods, damage to critical infrastructure, and breakdown of essential lifeline systems such as transport, power, water, and communication.
Authorities are also assessing whether the fuel crisis has triggered widespread disruption in transport systems and supply chains — conditions that could justify emergency intervention if normal operations cannot be restored within a prescribed period.
The provincial government has yet to announce a timeline for the decision, but officials emphasized that data-driven evaluation remains crucial as Iloilo confronts what could become one of its most unusual crises — one driven not by nature, but by surging fuel costs./PN
