PH fuel inventory still good for 50 days — DOE

The Philippines has enough fuel supply to last about 50 days or until early June, with the government continuing efforts to diversify its sources as the country remains under a state of national energy emergency, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday.

According to DOE Secertary Sharon Garin, the country has an average of 50 days — 36 days for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 49 for diesel, 54 days for gasoline, and 105 days for kerosene.

“I think we will reach about 50 days by today on average, so maganda pa naman ‘yung supply level natin (our supply level is still good) but that will depend also on what will happen with the Strait of Hormuz, ano'ng availability ng oil sa ibang countries,” she said in a briefing.

“Maganda po ang number na ‘to. Sa number na ‘to kasi, binibigyan tayo ng 50 days to make the replenishment. Hindi po maaubos ‘to after 50 days. Ang ibig sabihin nito, makakahanap tayo habang kinokonsumo natin within the 50 days,” she added.

(This number is good. With this number, we are given 50 days to make the replenishment. It will not run out after 50 days. This just means we can secure fresh supply while consumption continues within the 50 days.)

With the LPG having the lowest inventory, Garin said the government, through the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) already made an additional order on Monday, April 13, 2026. She did not elaborate on the volume and the source for the order.

Global oil prices continue to be volatile amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as US President Donald Trump over the weekend said the US Navy would immediately form a blockade at the strait after talks with Tehran to reach a deal to end the war failed.

Prior to this, Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to Iran’s agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait.

The ceasefire came less than two hours before the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on 8 p.m. last Tuesday eastern time (9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, Philippine time), or have its power plans and bridges targeted.

Locally, pump prices were rolled back on Tuesday, April 14, but these are not enough to offset 13 straight weeks of increases for gasoline, and 15 for both diesel and kerosene.

“We are really at the mercy of these countries. We are not even part of it,” Garin said. — BAP, GMA News