Over P1 per liter fuel price hike seen next week

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists should brace for another round of price hikes next week, with pump prices estimated to rise by more or less P1 per liter. 

Following a slight rollback in gasoline and hikes in diesel and kerosene on July 29, fuel prices are set to open August with continued increases — marking the fourth consecutive week of price hikes for diesel and kerosene.

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Friday, August 1, that gasoline prices may increase by P1.50 per liter, diesel by P1, and kerosene by P0.80, based on four-day trading data from the global oil market this week.

While oil firms implemented fuel price hikes earlier this week, some deferred the scheduled increases in provinces battered by floods due to successive tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

This was in line with the government’s call, especially as several provinces have declared a state of calamity due to the thousands affected. 

On July 29, gasoline prices went down by P0.10 per liter, while diesel rose by P0.60 per liter and kerosene by P0.40 per liter. 

Since the start of the year, fuel prices have gone up by a net of P9.30 per liter for gasoline, P13.05 for diesel, and P2.95 for kerosene.

Price freeze

A total of 12 oil firms agreed to include diesel in the 15-day price freeze in areas under a state of calamity, which typically puts kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas price hikes on hold. In effect, this week’s price hikes were implemented only in areas where no state of calamity had been declared. 

Some of the announced price freezes include these areas:

• Jetti Petroleum: Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Oriental Mindoro and Negros Occidental
• Petron (for diesel): La Union, Ilocos Sur, Pampanga and portions of Pangasinan, including Basista, San Carlos, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mangatarem, Mangaldan and Umingan.
• Shell Pilipinas (for diesel): La Union, Ilocos Sur, Dagupan and select areas in Pangasinan such as Dagupan, Alaminos, Mangaldan, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Bayambang, San Fabian and Binmaley.
• Seaoil (for diesel): Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley
• Cleanfuel: Manila; Caloocan; Quezon City; Cavite; Rizal; Laguna; Pampanga; Maysilo, Malabon; Alabang-Zapote, Las Piñas; Marikina; Meycauayan, Bulacan; Tanauan, Batangas; Dinalupihan, Bataan; and Dagupan, Pangasinan

Next week’s projected fuel price hikes are expected to apply only in areas not under a state of calamity. The final adjustments will be announced on Monday, August 4, once today's trading day concludes.

Here's a list of areas under a state of calamity. 

— with reports from Brix Lelis