DAVAO CITY — As global tensions ripple across local economies, Davao City has moved to shield its residents from the mounting pressures of rising fuel costs and commodity prices through a sweeping new executive order.
Signed on March 31, 2026, Executive Order No. 07 by Sebastian Duterte establishes the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emergency Socioeconomic Crisis Response (IATF-CRISIS), a multi-sectoral body tasked with steering the city through what officials describe as an increasingly volatile economic environment.
The order comes in the wake of a widening geopolitical conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran—developments that have disrupted global oil supply chains, particularly following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The resulting surge in fuel prices since early March has begun to cascade into higher transportation fares, increased costs of goods, and growing uncertainty among businesses and consumers alike.
For a city like Davao City, known as Mindanao’s economic hub, the stakes are high.
A Government-Wide Response
The newly created task force reflects a whole-of-government approach. Chaired by the city mayor, with the City Planning and Development Coordinator as vice chair, the body brings together key offices ranging from economic planners and legal experts to public safety officials and national government agencies.
More than just a coordinating body, the IATF-CRISIS is designed to act swiftly and decisively. Its mandate includes crafting policies, stabilizing supply chains, monitoring prices, and ensuring that both consumers and businesses are protected from exploitative practices such as hoarding and price manipulation.
Six specialized subcommittees—covering peace and security, employment, social services, economic affairs, health and emergency response, and energy—form the backbone of the task force’s operational strategy. Each is expected to respond to specific dimensions of the crisis, from safeguarding jobs to maintaining food supply and public order.
From Global Crisis to Local Impact
At the heart of the order is a recognition that global events are no longer distant concerns but immediate local realities. The declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency under Presidential Executive Order No. 110 on March 24 further underscored the urgency for local governments to act.
In Davao, the effects are already being felt. Transport groups have warned of fare hikes, small businesses are bracing for increased operating costs, and households—particularly low-income families—face tightening budgets as basic goods inch upward in price.
The task force is expected to work closely with the Davao City Price Coordinating Council to track these changes and recommend interventions, including potential price controls or subsidies if necessary.
Balancing Protection and Productivity
While the order emphasizes consumer protection, it also acknowledges the need to support businesses. Ensuring a “fair return on investment” for legitimate enterprises is a key principle drawn from the Price Act, which underpins the city’s strategy.
Officials say the goal is not merely to respond to the crisis but to position the city for recovery. Among the task force’s long-term objectives are restoring economic stability, revitalizing local industries, and accelerating a return to normalcy once the external shocks subside.
Immediate Activation
Unlike many government bodies that require further triggering mechanisms, the IATF-CRISIS is already in motion. The executive order provides for its automatic activation upon the declaration of a socioeconomic emergency—and explicitly states that, given current conditions, the task force is now fully operational.
Backed by city funds and supported administratively by the City Administrator’s Office, the task force is expected to convene regularly and roll out guidelines and programs in the coming weeks.
A Test of Local Governance
As cities across the Philippines grapple with the far-reaching consequences of global instability, Davao’s proactive stance may serve as a model—or a test case—for localized crisis management.
For residents, however, the measure is less about policy frameworks and more about daily survival: stable prices, reliable transport, and the assurance that government institutions are working in unison to navigate uncertain times.
In the words implied by the order itself, the challenge is not only to endure the crisis—but to emerge from it with a stronger, more resilient local economy.