Why are gasoline prices rising while diesel and kerosene are not? 

While diesel and kerosene users may experience relief amid an expected rollback next week, gasoline consumers are set to further tighten their belts amid price increases.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Joseph Morong on Friday, a possible rollback for diesel prices may reach up to P9 per liter and up to P12 per liter for kerosene on May 12, as announced by the Department of Energy.

This is based on the latest crude oil trading in the world market, and the rollback might be significant.

“Inaasahan namin kung tutuloy-tuloy ang pagbaba, malakihan pa rin po ang madadagdag diyan,” said DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad in a Super Radyo DZBB interview.

However, gasoline users may experience a P1.60 to P1.70 per liter hike.

The DOE currently dictates petroleum price changes amid a state of national energy emergency.

Amid this, the agency pursues a faster reaction of Philippine oil prices to world market prices.

"We've been fighting with the price cost recovery method. Dapat kung gaano kabilis mag-increase, 'pag bumaba, dapat ganun din kabilis," Abad said.

(It should be as fast as it increases, and should be as fast as it decreases.)

According to jeepney drivers who use diesel, this will not be enough.

Some drivers asked: Why do gasoline prices keep on rising while diesel prices are going down?

The DOE explained that the demand for diesel and gasoline differs.

The gasoline demand is currently up due to the summer season in some parts of the world.

"Papuntang summer season na at palakas na ang demand sa gasolina. Kung naalala n'yo, dito din sa pagi-increase ng volatility dahil doon sa Iran-US war, eh hindi pumalo masyado ang gasolina… because at that time, itong early February up to March, actually January pa lang up to March, ay hindi pa summer season sa European countries, sa US [at] sa Mexico," Abad said.

(The summer season is coming and the demand for gasoline is already strong. If you remember, with the increase in volatility due to the Iran-US war, gasoline did not hit as much… because at that time, this early February up to March, actually January up to March, it was not yet the summer season in European countries, in the US and in Mexico). —Jamil Santos/LDF, GMA News