DOE adds 178 million liters to fuel buffer

The Department of Energy said all four diesel shipments secured under the government’s Emergency Energy Security Program have arrived, adding 178,331,781 liters of diesel to the country’s fuel buffer amid continued volatility in the global oil market and developments in the Middle East.

The DOE said the completed deliveries are part of the government’s fuel security efforts under Executive Order No. 110, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued on March 24, 2026, declaring a state of national energy emergency because of risks to the country’s energy supply.

The order authorized urgent and targeted measures to safeguard domestic energy supply amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

The DOE said the phased diesel deliveries were secured through the Philippine National Oil Co.-Exploration Corp. to help maintain stable and sufficient supply in the domestic market.

The first shipment, consisting of 142,531.23 barrels, or 22,660,613 liters, of diesel from Japan arrived in Batangas on March 26, 2026.

The second shipment, consisting of 329,650 barrels, or 52,410,065 liters, arrived in Subic.

The third shipment, consisting of 319,576 barrels, or 50,808,430 liters, also arrived in Subic.

The fourth shipment, consisting of 329,918 barrels, or 52,452,673 liters, arrived in Davao City.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said the full delivery of all four shipments demonstrates the administration’s resolve to keep the domestic market adequately supplied and prepared for external supply risks.

“The arrival of all four diesel shipments shows that the government is acting with urgency to protect the country’s fuel supply,” Secretary Garin said. “As the Middle East conflict continues, our priority is to ensure that the Philippines remains prepared, adequately supplied, and able to respond swiftly to developments that may affect fuel availability and market stability.”

The DOE said the completed deliveries will help reinforce the country’s supply position at a time when international oil markets remain vulnerable to disruption.

The department said timely fuel arrivals are critical not only to maintaining inventory levels but also to supporting the uninterrupted operation of key sectors such as transport, logistics, power generation, agriculture, and industry.

The emergency program followed the government’s move to activate a PHP 20 billion emergency fund to boost fuel security amid oil price volatility linked to the Middle East conflict.

The government earlier said the emergency measures were intended to protect supply stability and cushion the impact of rising global fuel prices.

The DOE assured the public that it will continue working with concerned government entities and industry stakeholders to monitor inventory, facilitate the timely distribution of fuel, and prevent supply bottlenecks that may disrupt essential economic activity.