Business owners in Cagayan de Oro City have expressed concerns after the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) may last only 24 days.

Many commercial establishments in the city rely heavily on LPG for their daily operations.

An eatery owner said her business consumes about two 11-kilogram LPG tanks per week.

“Maggamit mi uling mao amo alternative sauna pure LPG gyud. Para maka ekonomiya mi sa among gamit sa gasul,” eatery owner, Aida Colaste, said.

Aside from issues on supply, business owners are also struggling with the rising prices of LPG.

According to a major LPG dealer in the city, prices increased by P11 per liter this week, which is equivalent to a P132 hike per 11-kilogram tank.

“Among baligya mao ra gihapon kay lisod kaayo magpataas mi sa among presyo unya kay ang tao nag daginot man pud,” Colaste added.

LPG dealers explained that adjustment of prices used to take effect monthly but current situations have made prices more volatile.

“Sa wala pa ni situation sa middle east ang atong price adjustment monthly. First day of the month karon tungod sa panghitabo ron dili namo ma-control,” a staff member of an LPG dealer, Joy Betonio, said.

From P1,100, the price of an 11-kilogram household LPG tank has now reached P1,235.

LPG dealers said price adjustments also depend on their suppliers.

However, they assured the public that supply in the city remains stable for now, with stocks sufficient beyond 24 days.

“Every day makakuha sa depot pero sa karon okay pa among stocks diri. Walk-in, restaurants mga commercial accounts makakuha pa gyud,” Betonio added.

The public is urged to conserve LPG usage, especially as supply may be affected due to Middle East crisis.