Gov't to set fuel price adjustment limits amid national energy emergency — Garin

Oil companies are now mandated to comply with the minimum and maximum amount that the government would set regarding the adjustments in the price of petroleum products amid the state of national energy emergency, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Monday. 

At a press briefing, Garin explained that such a policy was triggered following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s signing of Executive Order No. 110, which declared the state of national energy emergency. 

“Because of that declaration, it triggered the additional powers from government to prescribe the price. Hindi tayo nagka-cap sa presyo mismo, pero kina-cap natin ‘yung adjustments,” she said.

(We don't put a cap on the price itself, but we put a cap on the adjustments.)  

“So under that issuance, DOE is now subscribing the price increase limitation. May limit na tayo, may minimum na tayo rollback tapos may maximum din tayo sa price increase. So both ways,” she added. 

(We now have a limit. We have a minimum amount set for the rollbacks, and a maximum amount for the price increase. It works both ways.) 

Several oil companies have announced Monday that on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, they will slash the prices per liter of diesel by P24.94, and of gasoline by P3.41. The price of kerosene will also be reduced by P2.00 per liter.

Garin said that other local oil companies have to follow suit with the price adjustments set by the Department of Energy (DOE). 

“‘Pag rollback siya, dapat kung P24.94 ‘yan dapat ‘yung rollback will be equal or more than the P24.94. So pwede siyang maging P25, pwede siyang maging P26, pero hindi siya pwedeng P20 lang. So kailangan sundan ng oil companies,” she said. 

(If there’s a rollback of P24.94, then the rollback should be equal or more than the P24.94. So it can be P25, it can be P26, but it can't be just P20. So the oil companies need to follow suit.) 

“Pero ‘pag increase siya, ‘pag sinabi ng DOE na P10 lang halimbawa ang increase, hindi pwedeng sumobra,” she added. 

(But if there’s an increase, if the DOE says the increase should only P10, for example, it can't be more than that.) 

Marcos earlier urged oil companies to implement the rollback for both diesel and gasoline prices in full and without delay, amid an expected major cut in pump prices. — RSJ, GMA News