Fuel prices climb again in May as global pressures offset 2-week April rollbacks
Ending a brief period of relief for motorists, oil prices resumed their upward trajectory in the first week of May as global supply pressures offset the price rollbacks seen in late April.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin told a press conference on Monday, May 4, that diesel prices will increase by ₱2.66 per liter, while gasoline prices will rise by ₱2.21 per liter.
The DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) estimates that gasoline (or RON 97) at stations could be priced at around ₱82 to ₱107.11 per liter, while diesel at gas pumps could range from ₱79.62 to ₱102.16 per liter.
Kerosene, on the other hand, will decrease by ₱3.53 per liter.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has also gone up by ₱1.22 per kilogram, resulting in a ₱13.42 increase for an 11-kilogram (kg) cylinder.
While the country continues to follow global oil volatility, Garin clarified that there is still no assurance that prices will revert to rollbacks moving forward. However, she noted that price increases this week have eased compared to the double-digit spikes seen in recent months.
Furthermore, Garin said that the country has about 53.71 days’ worth of supply; therefore, the DOE will pause its procurement plans for the month.
Gasoline has about 52.64 days’ worth of supply, diesel also has about 52.64 days, while kerosene has the largest available supply at 166.67 days.
LPG, despite having the lowest inventory in days, has steadied at 40.46 days.
The DOE is currently looking at possible government-to-government oil procurement, although plans have yet to be finalized.