Camille Naredo

Motorists line up at a gasoline station along Philcoa in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday, March 6, in a rush to refuel ahead of the expected fuel price increase next week.

Motorists line up at a gasoline station along Philcoa in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday, March 6, in a rush to refuel ahead of the expected fuel price increase next week. Long queues of cars and motorcycles formed as drivers tried to fill up before the anticipated hike in gasoline and diesel prices.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

OIL PRICE HIKE

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177546227071520260306-oil-price-hike-refueling-MT12.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Motorists line up at a gasoline station along Philcoa in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday, March 6, in a rush to refuel ahead of the expected fuel price increase next week. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Motorists line up at a gasoline station along Philcoa in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday, March 6, in a rush to refuel ahead of the expected fuel price increase next week. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- A lawmaker on Monday proposed the passage of the Agapay sa Hanapbuhay at Operasyon ng Negosyo (AHON) measure, rather than Bayanihan 3, to address the impact of the fuel price hike.</p><p>This comes as two senators proposed a third Bayanihan law amidst the impact of the war in the Middle East in the country.</p><p>Senator Loren Legarda&#x27;s bill, &quot;Bayanihan 3: Power to the People Act,&quot; will impose a wealth tax on ultra-high net worth individuals. It also has provisions for temporary increase in taxes on luxury goods and services.</p><p>Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian&#x27;s version of the bill will name a source of funds for the implementation of assistance and subsidies and pump prime the economy. It will also provide relief from mandatory contributions.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/1/senator-pushes-for-immediate-fuel-rationing-1505">READ: Senator pushes for immediate fuel rationing</a></div><p>But House Committee on Ways and Means Vice Chairperson Rolando Valeriano believes that Bayanihan 3 is not &quot;targeted,&quot; whereas AHON has specific measures to help logistic companies, retailers, and households.</p><p>Under AHON, there would be tax-free wage support for minimum wage earners of at least P3,000, as well as interest-free loans for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).</p><p>&quot;At this point of time, hindi naman nga kako pandemic &#x27;to. Hindi naman &#x27;to &#x27;yung kahit sino bigyan na natin. Hindi bubuhay &#x27;yung ekonomiya,&quot; said Valeriano. &quot;Baka mas magandang yung acronym na ginawa ko.&quot;</p><p>Valeriano said he plans to file the bill for AHON by Tuesday.</p><p>For the congressman, the House should hold a special session for the passage of the bill because he does not expect the conflict in the Middle East to end in two to three weeks.</p><p>&quot;Matagal pa &#x27;to. At pag natapos &#x27;yung war, &#x27;yung after effect nito, imagine mo, for all you know, &#x27;yung mga crude, if ever na o-orderin natin in the Middle East, it will arrive here not later than 60 days. Ganoon katagal ang travel time noon,&quot; he noted.</p><p>Valeriano also expects the measure will be tackled at joint committee hearings, starting April 8, on addressing the impact of the tensions in the Middle East. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/31/joint-house-hearings-on-middle-east-crisis-response-to-begin-april-8-quimbo-1758">READ: Joint House hearings on Middle East crisis response to begin April 8 — Quimbo</a></div><p>Ways and means committee Chairperson Miro Quimbo earlier said he expects these meetings will result in the creation of a Bayanihan 3 package, which will not just be about direct cash aid. </p><p>Valeriano clarified he supports both the distribution of aid or &quot;ayuda&quot; and reduction of taxes. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UNPROGRAMMED APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND AHON </strong></div><p>As for funding, Valeriano said he hopes unprogrammed appropriations and department savings would be used for AHON as he opposes additional government debt to implement this.</p><p>&quot;Sa ngayon, siguro naman everybody will agree to me na gamitin natin ang unprogrammed fund para dito sa emergency situation. And without the unprogrammed fund, doon tayo mangungutang talaga,&quot; he said. &quot;Second, siguro by September, makikita natin na savings ng kada departmento. So doon kunin na rin natin &#x27;yung savings niyan, i-supplemental natin. Isasama natin dito sa AHON program na &#x27;to.&quot;</p><p>If the measure becomes a law, a tax credit equivalent to the incremental higher cost of fuel and cargo rates to &quot;recoup losses through lighter tax burden&quot; will be available for retailers, wholesale firms, and freight forwarders.</p><p>AHON will also mandate banks to suspend loan payments and grant reprieves on loan defaults. -- <strong>with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>A lawmaker on Monday proposed the passage of the Agapay sa Hanapbuhay at Operasyon ng Negosyo (AHON) measure, rather than Bayanihan 3, to address the impact of the fuel price hike.</p>

A lawmaker on Monday proposed the passage of the Agapay sa Hanapbuhay at Operasyon ng Negosyo (AHON) measure, rather than Bayanihan 3, to address the impact of the fuel price hike.

Lawmaker proposes AHON measure instead of Bayanihan 3, wants special session for passage

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Lawmaker proposes AHON measure instead of Bayanihan 3, wants special session for passage

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 06, 2026 04:01 PM PHT

Read More:

AHON

Bayanihan 3

fuel

prices

Middle East

House of Representatives

Sherwin Gatchalian

Loren Legarda

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