SM Supermalls will shorten operating hours across its locations starting March 30 as the country grapples with the declared national energy emergency. In a statement, the retail unit of SM Prime Holdings Inc. said TSM Supermalls’ shopping centers will adjust their opening times to 11 a.m. from...
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is cutting down its international and domestic connectivity from regional airports as it looks to optimize services to minimize the impact of the Middle East conflict on its operations. In an advisory on Thursday, March 26, PAL said it is implementing...
While Philippine monetary authorities maintained the current policy rate at 4.25 percent in a rare off-cycle meeting, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it would hike key interest rates if second-round effects from war-driven oil supply shocks occur. “Once we see second-round effects from...
Petron Corp., the only oil refiner in the Philippines, is seeking permission from the United States (US) government to process Russian crude as the company attempts to bypass supply disruptions triggered by conflict in the Middle East. The move comes as the Sierra Leone-flagged tanker Sara Sky...
Malacañang on Thursday, March 26, clarified that essential government services such as ambulance, police, fire, and health operations will not be affected by the government’s energy conservation measures amid rising global fuel prices. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said agencies delivering...
For jeepney drivers, "tigil‑pasada" was more than a protest; it was a desperate cry for survival. Thousands of commuters were left stranded along España Boulevard, Quiapo, Taft Avenue, and other major thoroughfares in Manila, as members of MANIBELA halted operations, highlighting the human...
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Wednesday, March 25 said he welcomes President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency but the directive is already “a bit too late.” That is why Ejercito said the government...
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...
Some senators on Wednesday, March 25 finally heaved a sigh of relief after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. finally declared a state of national energy emergency for the Philippines in light of the ongoing oil crisis. “I welcome the President’s declaration of a state of national...
To cushion Filipinos from surging pump prices and fuel shortages caused by ongoing Middle East tensions, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of ₱20 billion to the Department of Energy (DOE). “The move comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East...
The Philippines can quarantine a virus, but it cannot quarantine the global oil market. This is the warning from one of the architects of the country’s pandemic recovery, who argues that the current fuel shock could be a more ruthless economic adversary than Covid-19. While the health crisis was...
President Marcos said changes in relations with China are already taking place as he signaled openness to joint gas development with Beijing despite ongoing territorial disputes. “I think it’s certainly going to happen… there’s going to be a very, very serious restructuring,” Marcos said...
