“This is a very welcome development!” — JV Ejercito backs admin move securing safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
April 04, 2026
Deputy Majority Leader Senator JV Ejercito welcomed the move of the administration to secure assurances for the safe passage of Philippine-flagged vessels and Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that will facilitate the delivery of critical oil and fertilizer supplies to the country. “This is a very welcome development! This will greatly help replenish our petroleum reserves. We recognize the efforts of President Marcos and the Department of Foreign Affairs in opening diplomatic channels on this matter.”
“We are hopeful it will materialize and will be sustained,” Ejercito said.
The Philippines imports nearly all of its crude oil from the Middle East, leaving it vulnerable to price shocks and supply disruptions, which Ejercito said have immediate downstream effects on the domestic economy. The development, he added, would support efforts to manage oil price volatility.
“Sana itong development na ito makatulong kahit paano para gumaan ang sitwasyon. Para makahinga na ang taumbayan. Dahil ramdam na ramdam na na natin–itong problema sa supply, pinatataas ang presyo ng langis at sunod-sunod na ’yan, pati pamasahe, pagkain, at iba pang bilihin tumataas na,” he said.
The lawmaker also reiterated his call for the suspension of fuel excise tax.
“Ang atin pong proposal ay ibigay ang maximum na tulong at tuluyang suspendihin ang excise tax ng petrolyo.”
“Balansehin natin para mapanatiling gumagalaw ang mga industriya at mga sektor gaya ng agrikultura at transportasyon, at para maiwasan ang pagkaparalisa ng ating ekonomiya,” he added.
Ejercito is the principal author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 12316, which grants the President the authority to reduce or suspend fuel excise taxes. He also authored Senate resolution No. 43 calling for a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach to address the oil supply disruption crisis.
