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Brix Lelis - The Philippine Star
April 13, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — After weeks of relentless price spikes triggered by the Iran crisis, diesel prices should finally drop by at least P20.89 per liter this week, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said yesterday.
Gasoline and kerosene prices, meanwhile, are expected to decrease by no less than P4.43 and P8.50 per liter, respectively.
The figures announced by Garin were significantly higher than estimates from an industry source who projected a maximum price cut of only P10.80 per liter for diesel and P1.50 per liter for gasoline.
The projected rollback follows the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East that may reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that typically carries about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies.
The United States and Iran failed to reach a deal during talks in Pakistan yesterday, but further talks are expected.
Although not all fuel stations have the same pump prices, Garin stressed that the estimates she released should be the “minimum rollback” tomorrow.
“It’s based on the average of the last five days of international prices and comparing that to the average of the previous week,” the energy chief wrote on her Facebook page yesterday.
Since the war in the Middle East erupted in late February, diesel prices have already increased by at least P100 per liter.
The total net rise for gasoline and kerosene prices, on the other hand, exceeded P50 and P80 per liter.
In Metro Manila, prevailing kerosene and premium diesel prices have reached as high as P170 per liter, while gasoline has approached the P120-per-liter mark, based on latest available data.
Garin earlier said Filipinos may continue to face a prolonged period of high fuel prices even after the war ends, given the extensive damage to critical energy infrastructure in the Middle East.
Jeepney subsidy
Meanwhile, public utility jeepneys in Metro Manila can pump up at 52 gas stations accredited by the Department of Energy to receive the P10-per-liter discount on fuel.
Garin said the program, which President Marcos first announced last week, is in its pilot phase and will expand to other public utility vehicles soon.
“The system needs to be tested if it will work,” Garin told radio dzBB yesterday. “We will be testing for a week here in Metro Manila. After that, we will roll out to public utility vehicles, meaning buses, jeeps and transport network vehicle services.”
The program will begin tomorrow (Tuesday) and take effect for three months. Drivers can save as much as P1,500 with the subsidy capped at 150 liters per week.
The 150-liter cap, the DOE chief stressed, is the average weekly consumption of public utility drivers.
“We need to control it because, other than the budget of the government, we also have what we call safety nets. Some might take advantage of the situation and sell gas to others; that’s why we need 150 liters, depending on what jeepneys are consuming,” she explained.
Citing figures from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Garin said 18,000 jeepney drivers can go to any of the 52 participating gas stations.
Cut VAT, excise tax
But jeepney group Piston said the P10-per-liter fuel subsidy is inadequate as it will barely cover the cost of added taxes.
“If the government can give discounts, why can’t they address the concern of VAT (value added tax) and excise tax so not only one sector can benefit but all the people will benefit,” Piston national president Mody Floranda told The STAR.
The fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran had sparked optimism that petroleum imports could soon normalize, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC). However, the peace deal is now in jeopardy after negotiators left Pakistan without reaching any agreement.
“If finally an end to the war will be achieved through the negotiations, then we can expect that we go back to the pre-war level of petroleum importations. The ceasefire gives everyone a sense of hope,” BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno told The STAR on Saturday.
The Philippines, which imports almost all its fuel, remains in an energy emergency as the Middle East war has blocked passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Vice President JD Vance yesterday said both sides have not reached a deal, calling it “more bad news” for Iran than for Washington.
Back home, data from the BOC showed total import volume rose slightly by one percent to 2.99 million metric tons during the March 2 to April 10 blockade period, compared to 2.96 million MT in the same period last year. The increase was largely driven by higher crude oil shipments.
Meanwhile, collected duties and taxes went up 15 percent to P37.11 billion in the same period.
Diesel remained the country’s most imported fuel at 1.09 million MT, though this was four percent lower year-on-year.
Despite the decline in volume, duties and taxes collected from diesel surged 14 percent to P16.24 billion, reflecting higher assessed values of imported fuel products during the blockade period.
Crude oil imports rose to 1.14 million MT, with duties and taxes increasing by 68 percent to P5.92 billion.
Gasoline amounted to 604,104.62 MT (P13.43 billion); liquefied petroleum gas totaled 81,374.60 MT (P641.35 million); jet A-1 reached 69,690.75 MT (P769.23 million); kerosene totaled 6,447.57 MT (P105.73 million); and aviation gas reached 410.71 MT (P6.74million).
Data also showed the Philippines imported 6.84 million MT of fuel products from Jan. 1 to April 10, generating P83.41 billion in duties and taxes.
Most shipments came from Korea (1.55 million MT), followed by Saudi Arabia (1.17 million MT), the United Arab Emirates (1.11 million MT), China (734,199.97 MT) and Singapore (591,833.87 MT). — EJ Macababbad, Aubrey Rose Inosante, Josiah Antonio
