DOE: Fuel supply enough for 50 days

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s fuel supply is enough to last for a little over 50 days, according to the Department of Energy (DOE), which assured the public that efforts are ongoing to secure replenishment and temper price hikes.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the country’s oil inventory remains stable and is projected to last until the latter half of May based on data as of April 3.

“We have 50 days to replenish what we consume,” Garin said at a press briefing yesterday.

The DOE reported that the country’s total fuel inventory stands at an average of 50.42 days.

Gasoline supply is estimated to last 57.58 days, diesel 47.26, kerosene 106.22, jet fuel 66.37, fuel oil 52.26 and liquefied petroleum gas 33.10.

Garin clarified that the 50-day supply does not mean stocks will run out after May, but indicates the time frame within which replenishment must be made.

She noted that ordering fuel typically takes seven to 10 days, with deliveries arriving within about a week, as most supplies come from countries such as Japan and China.

“So far, there are no major disruptions being reported. There are minor issues, but not enough to disrupt the country’s entire supply chain,” she said.

The DOE also said it is closely monitoring oil companies, requiring weekly inventory reports to ensure supply stability, particularly in far-flung areas and among independent gas stations.

Rino Abad, director of the Oil Industry Management Bureau, said diesel demand disruption has reached 20 to 40 percent, while LPG supply has begun to stabilize due to confirmed incoming shipments.

“There are many confirmed LPG shipments in transit,” Abad said, noting that supply is expected to extend until June.

Garin said the DOE is working with oil and LPG companies to consolidate orders and ensure sufficient buffer stocks, especially as LPG remains the lowest among fuel inventories.

She added that maintaining stable LPG supply is crucial as it is widely used in households, restaurants and other industries.

Despite global uncertainties, particularly the war in the Middle East, Garin said the country remains in a “good stage” in terms of fuel supply, with no major disruptions seen so far.

High prices

Garin also told reporters that Filipinos may face a prolonged period of high fuel prices as costs are unlikely to quickly return to pre-war levels even if Mideast tensions ease.

She said the availability of fuel supply from the Mideast remained uncertain due to extensive damage to critical energy infrastructure caused by the ongoing war.

“It will take months or even years for the energy sector to construct or rehabilitate all these structures that are part of the oil supply that the Philippines depends on,” she said.

The Philippines and most of the world rely on crude supplies from oil-exporting Gulf states.

Notably, around 98 percent of the Philippines’ crude imports come from the Middle East, leaving the country highly exposed to disruptions in one of the world’s top-oil producing regions.

“That’s why I do not expect prices to go down as fast as they went up,” the energy chief said.

Before tensions erupted on Feb. 28, gasoline, diesel and kerosene were priced as low as P49, P48 and P77.40 per liter, respectively, in Metro Manila, according to the DOE.

As the conflict drags on, domestic fuel prices continue to surge, reaching new record highs week after week.

At present, kerosene and premium diesel prices have climbed to as high as P170 per liter, while gasoline is nearing the P120-per-liter mark.

Latest Global Petrol Prices show that the Philippines was among the countries that recorded the biggest increase in fuel costs since the war began.

“This is by far the fastest and highest increase in our oil prices,” Garin said, noting that Filipinos might not immediately feel the impact even if President Marcos suspends the fuel excise tax.

Garin noted that the excise tax is imposed and collected when fuel imports enter the country.

“Even if you announce an excise tax suspension today, it won’t be felt immediately since the taxes have already been paid. We’ve already stocked up,” she said.

As concerns over fuel shortage linger, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said they have intensified cooperation with other agencies to make sure no petroleum pilferage happens at the ports or at the gas stations.

“We actually formed a BOC Task Force headed by BOC Intelligence Division chief Allen dela Cruz. This was formed last March 6. They’re conducting inspections of depots with personnel of the Department of Energy,” said Nepomuceno.

“Because of the crisis, we also raised the level of cooperation with other agencies. — Evelyn Macairan, Emmanuel Tupas, Brix Lelis