The city government of Cagayan de Oro declared a state of energy emergency Tuesday after the 21st City Council approved Proposed Resolution No. 2026-203 during a special session on April 7.
The resolution was pushed by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) following a meeting held on April 6, as officials moved to address the effects of rising fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Earlier, on March 31, Mayor Rolando Uy issued an executive order creating an Energy Crisis Committee tasked with identifying possible measures to respond to the impact of the oil crisis.
During the session, the city council also approved the release of a ₱400 million calamity fund to support sectors affected by the situation.
Qualified beneficiaries include transport groups, farmers, fisherfolk, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents. Each eligible recipient will receive at least ₱2,000 in cash assistance.
Majority Floor Leader Councilor Edgar Cabanlas said the DRRMC proposed the resolution to align with Executive Order No. 110 issued earlier by the President, which declared a national state of energy emergency.
Cabanlas said aligning the local resolution with the national directive allows the city government to use its calamity fund. He also noted that the fund is limited and will not be released in bulk.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will begin distributing fuel subsidies to taxi drivers and operators starting Wednesday, April 8.
