Some gas stations run out of diesel ahead of big price hike

Some gas stations are already running low on diesel on Monday, ahead of the big-time pump price hikes scheduled for Tuesday, and even as the Department of Energy says there is enough fuel stocks in the country until the end of April.

In Saleema Refran's report on 24 Oras, a gas station in Zamboanga City said that it is nearly out of diesel, but no new deliveries are coming.

"Consistent yung dating ng gasolina, pero sa diesel wala po kaming [stock]," said pump attendant Amil Alkendar.

In Quezon City, a gas station on Commonwealth Avenue says it ran out of regular diesel the other day, but it still has premium diesel, which sells for P73 per liter.

"Nung nakaraang araw pa, marami kasi ang nagkarga," said pump attendant Gerry Dacquel. "Yung stock namin, naubos na po."

An attendant at another station that has also run out of diesel said that many PUVs and trucks had filled up. Like the others, he said they could not say when the next stocks would arrive.

According to data released by the Department of Energy (DOE), diesel prices are expected to rise by P17.50 to P24.25, amid the conflict in the Middle East, the latest blowup being the fallout from the US and Israel's attacks on Iran, and the Islamic republic's retaliation.

According to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), suspending the excise tax on petroleum products could reduce oil prices by P6 per liter for diesel and P10 per liter for gasoline.

There are currently bills pending in Congress to give the President the authority to suspend excise taxes on fuel. — BM, GMA Integrated News