Fuel retailers are set to implement a second consecutive week of price reductions on Tuesday, April 21, following the government mandate aimed at shielding consumers from the impact of volatile global energy markets and heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Shell Pilipinas Corp. and Seaoil Philippines Inc. were among the first to announce that diesel prices will drop by ₱24.94 per liter effective April 21. Gasoline prices will decrease by ₱3.41 per liter, while kerosene will see a reduction of ₱2 per liter. The adjustments follow guidance from the Department of Energy, which is moving to stabilize domestic costs after a sustained period of price hikes earlier this year.

The significant rollbacks are being executed under Executive Order 110, a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that grants the state broader intervention powers in fuel pricing during periods of extreme market instability.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said on Monday, April 20, that these minimum rollback levels were calculated to align with the administration’s current efforts to mitigate inflationary pressures.

In addition to price interventions, the government has tightened its grip on the local supply chain by requiring oil firms to provide transparent disclosures of their available storage capacity. This increased oversight comes as the administration seeks to build a more robust strategic buffer.

As of April 17, the national fuel supply stood at 52.02 days of inventory. Kerosene remains the most abundant with 129.93 days of stock, followed by gasoline at 54.47 days and diesel at 50.13 days. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) remains the tightest segment of the market with 40.26 days of supply.

Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said the government is actively managing imports to bolster these reserves. A shipment of approximately 321,000 barrels of diesel is scheduled to arrive at the Subic Terminal in Zambales on Tuesday.

The delivery will bring the total diesel procured through the state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. to more than 900,000 barrels for the month of April. For the cooking fuel market, Sales noted that 21,000 metric tons of LPG are slated for arrival in late May to further shore up inventories.

The relief at the pump is being matched by lower costs for household fuel. Following a presidential order to temporarily suspend excise taxes on LPG and kerosene, major suppliers including Solane and Petron Corp. have announced a price cut of ₱3.36 per kilogram for LPG. This reduction includes the value-added tax adjustment, providing a reprieve for households amid the broader energy security push.