By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — As the public awaits the suspension of the fuel excise tax, expected either this Sunday or Monday, the government’s price monitoring team reported rising diesel costs, which could surpass ₱160 per liter this week due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Starting tomorrow, Pilipinas Shell will increase diesel prices by ₱19.80 per liter, gasoline by ₱5.90 per liter, and kerosene by ₱9.10 per liter. Last week, gasoline rose by up to ₱2.90 per liter, diesel by ₱4.50 to ₱12.90 per liter, and kerosene by ₱1.00 to ₱2.40 per liter.
According to the Department of Energy (DoE), monitoring in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized areas last week showed gasoline prices ranging from ₱81.65 to ₱114 per liter, diesel from ₱109.50 to ₱153.10 per liter, and kerosene from ₱141 to ₱169.19 per liter.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said pump prices are unlikely to decrease soon. “On our calculations, on average, it’s still not going down as we hoped. We are hoping things will be better soon. But this war is very erratic. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Nobody knows,” she explained.
Garin added that fuel prices are being closely monitored, with any adjustments dependent on the suspension of the fuel excise tax scheduled for April 13.
Meanwhile, Tehran has assured Manila of safe passage for Philippine-flagged vessels and all Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
This follows President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s directive to the DFA to engage Iran to secure safe passage. Manila requested that Tehran formally designate the Philippines as a “non-hostile” country to protect Philippine-bound ships navigating the Strait.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro described the high-level meeting with Iranian officials as “very productive,” noting that Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi expressed interest in discussing stronger bilateral cooperation across all fronts.
Lazaro said the development is crucial for the Philippines, ensuring the safety of Filipino seafarers in the Middle East and helping secure the country’s energy supply. In a social media post, she wrote: “Building on recent talks, we reached a positive understanding on the safety of our seafarers and the security of our energy supply. Grateful for the warm spirit of cooperation.”
Garin added that Manila and Tehran have reaffirmed their commitment to “maintaining excellent relations and achieving lasting peace through continued dialogue and diplomacy.”
ia/xf
