Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday expressed frustration over the absence of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin during the first hearing of the Senate’s ad hoc committee addressing the government’s response to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The hearing, convened by the Senate’s Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee, focused on the impact of the crisis on global oil supply and prices.

During the hearing, Sen. Francis Pangilinan first raised the issue, asking, “Just for the record, may we know where Secretary Sharon Garin is?”

Committee Chair Sen. Win Gatchalian responded that Garin had prior commitments and submitted a full schedule for the day, sending undersecretaries as representatives instead.

He added that he had earlier stressed to Garin the importance of personally briefing the panel.

“I actually told her that it's imperative that she brief us in person dahil ang isa sa pinakamalaking casualty dito ay energy sector,” Gatchalian said.

He added, “Pero may pinadala siya sa akin na napakahabang schedule niya na hindi ko naman hiningi. In short, busy raw siya today. Pero sabi ko nga sa kanya, kung merong isang dahilan kung bakit tayo nandito, ay dahil mataas ang presyo ng langis at hindi rin natin alam kung tuloy-tuloy pa yung supply natin. Kaya sana marinig namin sa ating secretary kung ano ba yung kanyang plano. Kasi kung wala tayong supply ng langis, malaki ang ating problema.“

Legarda joined fellow senators in questioning the absence of the DOE chief in the hearing.

"Kung nandito ang SFA [Secretary of Foreign Affairs], bakit hindi 'yung iba? You're too busy? Is this not the most important thing? Admit there's a crisis. You must have a crisis action plan," Legarda said.

“‘Pag kayo ay humihingi ng budget ninyo, maski overnight nandyan kayo. Pero pag crisis action plan, marami kayong dahilan. The Senate will not allow that unless you are not admitting that we are in a crisis situation. Then you're lost in translation o nahihibang,” she added.

She called on the DOE to present a concrete contingency plan, including projections on affected households, funding requirements, and possible sources of financing.

The senator added that government agencies must act with urgency as if in an “ICU situation.”

“Because everyone must act as if you were in [an] ICU situation. That's how it should be. Not to enrage the people and not to let the people panic. But on the contrary, if they see the government on the ground and having more than what the Chair mentioned, so-called motherhood statements, not just curated PowerPoints,” she said.

The senator also criticized what she described as inconsistent positions from the Executive branch regarding proposed measures such as adjustments to excise taxes on fuel. She clarified that Congress had acted on urgent requests and would not go on recess without addressing priority legislation.

Legarda also stressed that it is unfair to blame the Senate for delays in certain programs, clarifying that Congress does not go on recess without acting on urgent legislation.

"Excuse me, hindi po nagbe-break ang Senado na hindi inaaksyunan ang hinihiling ng Executive," she said.

"Hindi po mag-break ang Senado kung sinabi ninyong kailangan ng congressional approval ang paggamit ng PNOO na ng kanilang pondo. Pakilagay po sa record after your presentation and we give a chance to the others...Because it's important na hindi tinuturo sa atin na nag-break tayo kaya ang PNOO hindi makagamit ng kanyang pera. That's unfair," Legarda emphasized.

“Pag sa ibang bagay, mabilis pa sa alas kuwatro. Pero sa krisis, wala. Ano ba kayo?” Legarda said, criticizing what she described as Garin’s lack of urgency.

Several Cabinet officials attended the hearing, including Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Department Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque, and DBM Secretary Rolando Toledo.

Garin eventually arrived later in the hearing, reportedly coming from Malacañang Palace.

Legarda reiterated that the hearing was crucial as it centered on the continuing increase in oil prices driven by the Middle East crisis, urging concerned agencies to present clear and actionable plans to mitigate its impact on the public.