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Workers unload sacks of rice at Paco Market in Manila on March 11, 2026.
The STAR / Edd Gumban
MANILA, Philippines — Rising fuel prices could significantly affect micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which make up the majority of businesses in the Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said.
PCCI President Perry Ferrer warned that higher energy costs could strain the viability of small businesses, which often operate with thin margins.
"Right now, you know, the biggest impact of these fuel hikes will be in the MSMEs, which is probably 1.2 million businesses in the Philippines where 90% of our business community are the micro and the small," Ferrer said in an interview with One News on Wednesday, March 11.
Hurting viability. Ferrer said small businesses are particularly sensitive to rising operating costs such as fuel, transportation and logistics.
"These are the businesses that, you know, a small uptick in prices, whether it's fuel or whether it's transportation or whether it's logistics, it really hurts the viability of these businesses," he said.
Ferrer stressed that energy costs play a central role in economic activity.
"Energy is the lifeline of the economy. The bottom line is energy. Nothing in our society now can function without energy, without fuel, without electricity," Ferrer said. "So really protecting and stabilizing the cost and the prices of energy, whether it be fuel or electricity, is vital for the economy of the Philippines."
Call for measures
Ferrer said the PCCI supports government measures aimed at easing fuel costs.
"For the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, we would support any measures that would really bring down the fuel prices down to the last week's level, basically," he said.
He added that policies aimed at lowering fuel prices would benefit businesses across the economy, especially MSMEs.
"MSMEs are including micro, small and medium. They are 99.6% of the business community in the Philippines," Ferrer said.
"If those shut down, then we're in trouble."
Transport groups, meanwhile, are calling for the removal of excise tax and value-added tax on fuel. President Marcos vowed to consider a reduction in such taxes as the Middle East conflict continues to affect the supply of oil. — Camille Diola
