Manila: The Philippines continues to maintain a stable fuel supply, ensuring no need for oil companies to import the less efficient Euro 2 fuel, energy officials announced on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stated during an online briefing that the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an advisory permitting the importation of Euro 2 fuel only if Euro 4 fuel, the cleaner and more efficient alternative, becomes unavailable due to supply disruptions originating from the Middle East conflict. Garin clarified that while the advisory serves as a temporary measure to manage price spikes, there is currently no government importation of Euro 2 fuel, and industry players have not notified the DOE of any plans to do so.
DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad emphasized that the current supply of Euro 4 fuel remains sufficient, indicating no immediate need to resort to Euro 2. Abad highlighted that Euro 4 fuel is recommended for vehicles manufactured since 2016. Additionally, DOE officials noted that further fuel deliveries are expected to strengthen domestic supply this month.
As of April 10, DOE data confirmed that domestic fuel stocks are adequate, with gasoline at 54 days, diesel at 49 days, kerosene at 104 days, jet fuel at 68 days, fuel oil at 46 days, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at 36 days. Garin mentioned that the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) has ordered additional LPG supply, with the third and fourth shipments expected to arrive within the month from North Asia and Southeast Asia.
Garin also encouraged eligible public utility vehicle drivers to personally avail of fuel subsidies by bringing their jeepneys to participating fuel stations. The PHP10 fuel discount is currently available in the National Capital Region, with plans for a nationwide rollout next week.
Regarding the power supply during the dry season, Garin assured the public that there will be no power interruptions due to diesel prices, as coordination with power plants on maintenance schedules continues. She noted that only about 3 percent of power consumers rely on diesel, primarily in off-grid areas. DOE officials also met with National Power Corporation officials to ensure that diesel supply for power generation remains available at lower costs.
