Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian on Wednesday called for immediate, unified action from both the public and private sectors, stressing that the country can no longer delay its response to the prevailing national crisis.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado, Gatchalian emphasized that the debate over whether the country is in a state of emergency is over, noting a consensus that urgent intervention is required to protect the most vulnerable Filipinos.

"I think it is settled and everyone agrees that we are already in a crisis," Gatchalian said. "It is important that we act now—both the public and the private sector. We must continuously mobilize resources to help the most vulnerable sectors."

A Unified Contingency Plan

The Senator’s remarks followed the initial hearing of the PROTECT Committee, where he observed a lack of a "comprehensive and unified" contingency plan. However, following the President's recent declarations and the formation of the UPLIFT Committee, Gatchalian expressed optimism that a formal national strategy is finally taking shape.

He noted that the PROTECT Committee will work closely with the executive branch’s UPLIFT body, specifically regarding:

• Budgetary Support: Coordinating requests, such as the Philippine National Oil Company's (PNOC) proposal to utilize its corporate budget.

• Legislative Requirements: Fast-tracking urgent laws needed to stabilize the economy and social services.

• Resource Mobilization: Ensuring that funds reach the sectors hardest hit by the crisis.

Gatchalian is set to lead another hearing tomorrow to gather input from key stakeholders. The Senator confirmed that representatives from oil companies, the transport sector, the food industry, and OFW organizations have been invited to provide recommendations.

"We want to hear from the private sector to see if they have further suggestions," Gatchalian added. "Since UPLIFT has been formed, we will reach out to them to align our legislative activities with their executive actions."

The Senator reiterated that the goal of the upcoming sessions is to finalize a set of recommendations that will bridge the gap between government policy and the actual needs of the private industry and the general public.