By Brian Campued
As part of the ongoing efforts of the government to augment the country’s fuel supply amid the state of energy emergency declared by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., about 329,000 barrels or 52.311 million liters of diesel from Malaysia have arrived in the Philippines.
According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the latest government-procured diesel followed the first delivery of 142,000 barrels or around 22.578 million liters from Japan on March 26.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the arrival of the second shipment reflects the government’s continuing efforts to strengthen domestic supply amid the tensions in the Middle East.
“The government is taking deliberate and forward-looking steps to build up available supply, support essential sectors, and help ensure that the country remains prepared for possible disruptions in the global oil market,” the DOE chief said in a statement Saturday.
Under the Emergency Energy Security Program, the DOE, through the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), aims to procure 2 million barrels of oil, equivalent to about 318 million liters, from non-Middle East countries.
Garin previously said that the government has secured 1.042 barrels or about 165.7 million liters of fuel, including the barrels that arrived from Japan and Malaysia.
The rest of the state-procured fuel shipments are expected to arrive in batches within April.
As the Philippines remains vulnerable to external developments that may affect both price and supply due to the country being a net importer of petroleum products, the DOE said it would sustain close coordination with concerned government entities and industry stakeholders to reinforce fuel availability, maintain orderly market conditions, and safeguard consumer welfare.
It likewise assured the public that it would continue to pursue all necessary measures, such as monitoring inventory levels, facilitating the timely distribution of incoming fuel volumes, and preventing supply bottlenecks that may affect transport, logistics, power generation, and other vital economic activities.
During a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday, Garin said that the country’s current fuel supply is enough for about 50 days.
The government has also been sourcing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from India, Argentina, and Canada as part of broader efforts to strengthen energy security.
She, however, urged the public to practice energy conservation measures and avoid hoarding to protect the country’s fuel supply.
“Kung mas kaunti ang consumption natin, mas secure po ang bansa natin na sigurado tayo, itong 50 days na ito na stock natin, it will be enough for the whole country to move, ang economic activity natin continuous pa rin,” she said.
-jpv
