At a gasoline station in La Loma, Quezon City, jeepney driver Rodolfo Sumali anxiously filled up his vehicle, already resigned to the grim reality faced by many like him as fuel prices surged in recent weeks following tensions in the Middle East.
“Kasi talagang yung kita namin halos napupunta lang sa gas,” he said.
(Most of our earnings really just go to fuel.)
What he did not expect on Tuesday was a bit of relief at the pump.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on April 13 announced the suspension of excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene, a move aimed at easing the burden on households amid volatile global oil prices driven by tensions in the Middle East.
The authority stems from Republic Act No. 12316, signed on March 25, which grants the President emergency powers to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes upon the recommendation of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE).
A former undersecretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday encouraged the motoring public to shift to electric vehicles (EVs) amid the rising fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis.
"Alam niyo, sa hanay ng transportation, matagal na natin isinusulong na sana po ay magpalit na tayo ng sasakyan. Kasi masyado tayong reliant sa diesel. At palagi na lang kapag tumataas ang presyo, nasasaktan ang mga kababayan natin. Sana mag-electric vehicle na," Jay Layug, who is now an executive board member of the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute, said in an interview on Unang Hirit.
(You know, in the transportation sector, we have long been advocating for a shift in our vehicles. It's because we are too reliant on diesel. And every time fuel prices go up, our countrymen suffer. I hope people switch to electric vehicles.)
"Kasi kung electric vehicles lahat 'yan, eh di walang gasolina or diesel na kailangan gastusan. So ayun ang pinaka-fundamental na paradigm shift na kailangan natin gawin. Mag-electric vehicles na tayo, 'wag na tayo umasa sa langis," he added.
(Because if Philippine cars were all electric vehicles, then there would be no need to spend on gasoline or diesel. So that is the most fundamental paradigm shift we need to make. Let's move to electric vehicles and stop depending on oil.)
Motorists got some relief this week as fuel retailers on Tuesday implemented pump price rollbacks. However, these are not enough to offset 13 consecutive weeks of increases for gasoline, and 15 straight weeks for both diesel and kerosene.
The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines recently noted a rise in demand for electric vehicles, with waiting times for units extending from just three days to as much as four weeks. — VDV, GMA News
The suspension of the excise tax on kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for three months due to the Middle East crisis is projected to cost the government P4.1 billion in potential income, an official from the Department of Finance (DOF) said Tuesday.
"For LPG and kerosene, if you take a look at the law, it’s a maximum of three months, so let’s talk about three months. [And] assuming 100 USD price per barrel, on average. So, for full suspension of LPG and kerosene, the losses will be around P4.1 billion for three months," Finance Undersecretary Karlo Fermin Adriano said at a Palace press briefing.
On Monday, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. announced that he had suspended the collection of excise tax on LPG and kerosene amid high fuel prices in the country.
The United States military on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to efforts in the Indo-Pacific including the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite its ongoing engagements in the Middle East.
At a press briefing, US 2026 Balikatan spokesperson Colonel Robert Bunn said Washington remains focused on its alliance with the Philippines and security in the region.
“This region is important to us. As you know, the United States has its geographic combatant commands. We are represented and under the auspices of INDOPACOM and they help us focus our efforts to Balikatan," said Bunn.
The Philippines is seeking another window or extension of a sanctions waiver from the United States to allow continued oil imports from Russia, even as alternative suppliers are available should the request be denied, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday.
According to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, the DOE has already communicated with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the request of an extension or another window for the Philippines to import oil from Russia, which the agency will then forward to the Philippine Ambassador to the United States.
SINGAPORE — A Chinese tanker sanctioned by the United States passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday despite a US blockade on the chokepoint, shipping data showed.
The Rich Starry would be the first to make it through the strait and to exit the Gulf since the blockade began, data from LSEG, MarineTraffic and Kpler showed.
The tanker and its owner Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd were sanctioned by the United States for dealing with Iran. The company could not be immediately reached for comment.
Transport groups are divided over joining planned protest actions this week against high fuel prices as some organizations push for continued demonstrations while others refuse to participate.
PISTON president Mody Floranda on Tuesday said their group will join the three-day nationwide transport strike of MANIBELA from April 15 to 17, Wednesday to Friday.
“Bahagi din po tayo nu'ng magaganap na pagkilos. Sabi ko nga ay mula po ng Marso, tayo ay tuloy-tuloy na naglulunsad ng protesta. At tuloy-tuloy ang ating protesta hanggang sa lampas ng May 1,” he told Dobol B TV in an interview.
(We are also part of the action that will take place. As I said, since March we have been continuously launching protests. And our protests will continue until after May 1.)
“Hangga't hindi tinatanggal itong Oil Deregulation Law. Hangga't hindi tinatanggal ang VAT sa langis,” he added.
(Until this Oil Deregulation Law is repealed. Until the VAT on oil is repealed.)
Floranda noted that while an oil price rollback is anticipated, it would not be enough to offset previous increases in fuel costs.
PISTON demands the removal of excise taxes on petroleum products, which he said would provide more substantial relief compared to proposed fuel discounts for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.
Floranda pointed out that discount schemes are often limited in availability and insufficient to address the financial burden faced by drivers.
ALTODAP
Meanwhile, ALTODAP national president Melencio “Boy” Vargas said their group will not join the planned strike, saying it would only inconvenience commuters who are not responsible for the rising fuel prices.
“Ang ALTODAP, Pasang Masda, at Busina, kami pong tatlo ay nag-usap-usap na. Hindi po kami sasama,” Vargas said in a separate interview on Dobol B TV.
(The three of us — ALTODAP, Pasang Masda, and Busina — have already talked. We will not join.)
“Dahil ako po ang tingin ko po, sino pong i-hostage na naman natin or ang pahihirapan lang po natin ay ang commuters, ang mananakay? Napakasakit naman po noon dahil unang-una, hindi naman po sila ang dahilan ng pagtaas nito,” he added.
(Because I think, who are we going to hold hostage again or are we just going to make the commuters suffer? That is heartbreaking because in the first place, they were not the reason for the increase.)
ALTODAP prefers to engage with government agencies to seek solutions, he said.
Among their proposals is a request to banks to temporarily defer loan payments of operators amid rising fuel costs. Vargas said transportation officials have committed to coordinate with banks regarding the proposal.
He also pushed for increased funding for the government’s service contracting program as the current budget may only last a short period.
Vargas suggested raising the allocation to as much as P2 billion to P5 billion to extend assistance to affected drivers for several months. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News
WASHINGTON - The United States made a lot of progress in talks with Iran, US Vice President JD Vance said in an interview on Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier on Monday.
Vance, asked whether more talks were coming, said the ball was in Iran's court.
He added that the US expects Iran will make progress on opening the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the negotiation would change if Tehran does not. —Reuters
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