Manila: Government intervention in fuel pricing has provided timely relief to consumers amid sustained increases in pump prices, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday. Gatchalian highlighted Executive Order (EO) 110, or the declaration of a National State of Energy Emergency, as a necessary response to rising fuel costs since March.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian stated that the government's intervention through EO 110 offers a timely relief in light of the rate at which fuel prices have been increasing since March. He emphasized the importance of transparency in fuel pricing, stressing that consumers need to understand how oil companies determine price adjustments.

"As the country is fully dependent on imports to meet local requirements for fuel, the public deserves to know the math. The DOE must clearly explain how oil companies compute price increases," he said. The senator also called for the continued use of the government's emergency powers to regulate prices in favor of consumers.

Moreover, Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee, assured that the Senate will maintain oversight of fuel prices to ensure that any adjustments are fair. "Patuloy nating tututukan ang presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo bilang bahagi ng oversight function ng Senado para masigurong makatarungan ang anumang pagtaas ng presyo (We will continue to monitor fuel prices as part of the Senate's oversight function to ensure that any increase remains fair)," he stated.