Having ample fuel inventory is one thing, but paying for it is another. While energy officials tout procurement that stretches into May, the reality at the gas pump remains grim as another round of price hikes is expected next week.

Based on the two-day trading average at Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), diesel could potentially spike by another double-digit increase to around ₱15 to ₱16 per liter. Gasoline, on the other hand, saw a slightly tempered increase during its initial estimates between ₱3 and ₱4 per liter.

An industry source told Manila Bulletin that despite government efforts to enhance fuel inventory amid the volatile Middle East situation, the government may not have been consistent with its coordination with oil companies into actual relief for motorists at the pump. Total, CleanFuel, and Caltex are among the few oil companies that have volunteered to continue their price staggering this week, while PetroGazz has implemented a ₱5 per liter rollback on its petroleum products.

According to the expert, the Department of Energy (DOE) has softened its appeal to oil firms to avoid appearing "pushy," especially in light of the challenging business climate that has already unfolded. So far, the DOE has sought fuel companies to import Euro 2 fuel to help widen its sources amid tighter inventories.

“There are concerns on logistics in stations, since comingling of Euro 2 with Euro 4 will downgrade the overall quality of the fuel,” the source said, as this emission standard allows for significantly higher levels of sulfur and nitrogen oxides compared to the more stringent Euro 4, which requires advanced fuel refining and engine technology to reduce harmful pollutants.

Under Executive Order 110, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has placed the country under a state of national emergency, triggering the activation of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) to be implemented by a team of economic managers, including the Department of Energy.

While the order expects a whole-of-government approach to address an uninterrupted fuel supply, among others, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) has stressed the need for a proactive plan, especially since fuel prices remain elevated.

“The US-Israel war on Iran, like other global disruptions, must not only trigger emergency and temporary responses. We also have to plan ahead, because as the government starts a coordinated effort through the UPLIFT framework, Filipinos will still bear the brunt of the impact: fuel prices will continue to increase, detrimentally affecting the lives and livelihoods of people,” said Angelo Kairos dela Cruz, executive director of ICSC.

He mulled the importance of how global price shocks hit consumers as safeguards remain limited, as he noted that, “This highlights a deeper structural issue, that an import-dependent energy system leaves countries like ours exposed to volatility, while private gains persist during crises.”

As the transport sector relies heavily on diesel, this petroleum product remains the most volatile among fuel types, prompting the ICSC to call for strategic and timely government subsidies, robust financing mechanisms, and technical support to cushion drivers from the impact of Middle East tensions. The DOE has yet to comment on the actions to be taken for its role in the UPLIFT program.