Lower oil prices seen in next few months

MANILA, Philippines - The decision of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to keep producing oil at current high levels is definitely good news for the Philippines, the LPG Marketers’ Association (LPGMA) party-list group said yesterday.

This means the Philippines, an oil importer, will continue to benefit from low-priced oil in the months ahead, LPGMA party-list Rep. Arnel Ty said.

Ty said households, businesses and even the government, which is a huge consumer, would gain in a big way from a prolonged low-cost oil environment.

“Filipino consumers can keep on using their savings from reduced fuel, electricity, and transport costs to buy other goods and services,” he said.

Ty added the deflationary impact of cheap oil prices is expected to help keep lending rates low, thus helping families that want to buy new homes and cars as well as businesses that wish to expand.

Ty urged the national government to step up spending for infrastructure projects.

“Government should now take advantage of inexpensive oil to quickly perform at a lower cost major construction projects that tend to require a lot of spending for fuel and power,” he said.

Ty added the government should stay ahead of the 45-day ban on public works spending before the May 9, 2016 elections.

Oil prices plunged below $40 per barrel immediately after OPEC decided on Friday to maintain current production levels at around 31.5 million barrels of oil per day (BOPD), despite a growing surplus in world markets.

The decision implies that a global oversupply of between 700,000 to 1.8 million BOPD would keep a steady downward pressure on oil prices, Ty said.

After examining 45 countries, the global forecasting firm Oxford Economics Ltd. previously projected the Philippines would be the biggest winner and its economy would grow the fastest in a depressed oil price setting.