THE cost of diesel and premium gasoline will shoot up to more than P100 a liter at some gas stations this week as oil companies impose another massive round of price hikes due to supply disruptions from the ongoing war in the Middle East. The sizable price hikes will be accompanied by an increase in jeepney and bus fares, which the government said would stay within a 19-percent ceiling. The Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday said the oil companies agreed to stagger the second hefty round of price increases in so many weeks as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of abating. The department said prices of gasoline will increase by P12.90-P16.60 per liter and diesel by P20.40-P23.90 per liter. The cost of kerosene will go up by P6.90-P8.90 per liter. Shell said it will raise gasoline prices by P16.60 per liter, diesel by P23.90 per liter, and kerosene by P6.90 per liter. The increases will be staggered over three days starting March 17. Seaoil said it will hike gasoline prices by P16.30 per liter, diesel by P23.30 per liter, and kerosene by P6.90 per liter. The increases will be staggered over two days, from March 17 to March 18. Petron will increase gasoline prices by P12.90 per liter, diesel by P20.40 per liter, and kerosene by P8.90 per liter. Flying V will implement the same prices hikes. Both companies will stagger the increases over three days starting on March 17. Jetti Petroleum said it will increase gasoline prices by P14.70 per liter, and diesel prices by P23.30 per liter. It will stagger the increases over two days, starting on March 17. Total said that it will hike gasoline prices by P14.10 per liter, and diesel by P20.70 per liter. The increases will be staggered over two days, starting March 17. Unioil said that it will increase diesel prices by P21.90 per liter, and gasoline by P13.80 per liter. It will stagger the increases over three days starting March 17. Before this week’s increases, premium gasoline was selling for P67. 99 to P84.50 a liter. An increase at the high end of the range would push the price to P101.10 per liter this week. Unleaded gas was selling at P58.15 to P69.44. An increase at the high end would push unleaded gas to P86.04 per liter. Diesel was selling for P56.74 to P84.54 a liter before this week’s increases. An increase at the high end would push diesel to P108.44 per liter this week. This will be the ninth consecutive week where all fuel prices will increase. Last week, gasoline prices increased by P7-P13 per liter, diesel prices jumped by around P17.50-P24.25 per liter, while kerosene prices spiked by around P32.00-P36.00 per liter as local oil companies implemented different price hikes. Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the government has been seeking other sources to augment the country’s current fuel supply, in case the war drags out for much longer. “We have been continuing to reach out to other countries such as Thailand, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore despite some of their announcements saying that they have closed off oil exports for now. We have also tried reaching out to Russia as well. Talks are progressing, to various degrees, but I can assure that we have ample supply to last until the end of April,” Garin said. She declined to comment on how high fuel prices might go if the war continues. Jeepney and bus fares The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it would announce new fares for jeepneys and city buses on March 17. LTFRB chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the proposed increases will be guided by a 19-percent ceiling, taking into account the recent minimum wage hike and the need to help public transport drivers cope with rising fuel expenses. “We try as much as we can to work around that 19-percent increase in minimum wage,” Mendoza said in an interview, explaining that the board is trying to ensure that transport fares keep pace with the rising cost of living. He acknowledged, however, that any fare adjustment would add to commuters’ financial burden, noting that transportation costs are only one component of a typical Filipino household’s expenses. Mendoza said the LTFRB is coordinating with other government agencies to mitigate the broader effects of inflation on both commuters and transport workers. While fare hikes for jeepneys and city buses are still being finalized, provincial bus fares have already increased following an earlier LTFRB order. The adjustment took effect on Saturday, March 14, after the board approved new rates on March 13 in response to rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East war. Under the revised fare matrix, air-conditioned, super deluxe, and deluxe provincial buses will charge an additional P0.35 per kilometer, while luxury provincial buses will increase fares by P0.45 per kilometer. Ordinary provincial buses will see a P1 increase in the base fare, with an additional P0.30 for each succeeding kilometer. The LTFRB said the adjustments aim to help operators manage mounting fuel expenses amid global price volatility. Multi-agency assistance During a joint media briefing, Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian detailed a multi-agency approach to support public transport drivers and operators, combining immediate cash relief with fuel subsidies and complementary programs. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin rolling out its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AIS) program today, March 17. The initial phase prioritizes Metro Manila tricycle and jeepney drivers, covering about 139,000 beneficiaries with a total cost nearing P700 million. “The cash relief will be delivered promptly to avoid delays, prioritizing those struggling to continue working amid rising fuel costs,” Gatchalian said. The program will coordinate with local government units to reach drivers and operators who may not be under LTFRB regulation, ensuring broader coverage. The AIS program has a total allocation of P60 billion for 2025, with P30 billion earmarked for fuel-related relief efforts. Separately, the Department of Transportation has allocated P2.5 billion for a P5,000 fuel subsidy that will be given directly to drivers and operators regulated by the LTFRB. This includes provincial, metro, and point-to-point (P2P) buses, traditional and modern jeepneys, taxis, ride-hailing services, and school service vehicles. Lopez emphasized that this program is separate from the DSWD cash relief and addresses past complaints that subsidies were primarily given to operators rather than drivers. Lopez also clarified that drivers and operators may receive aid from both programs, as they are funded from separate sources and address different needs. The fuel subsidy rollout is expected by the fourth week of March, pending the release of the notice of cash allocation (NCA) from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Once funded, distribution could occur simultaneously across all transport modes. In other developments: – The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading House Bill 8418 aiming to authorize the country’s president to suspend or cut fuel excise taxes during national or global economic emergencies. “This measure is in direct response to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East that has a direct effect on fuel prices and the cost of basic goods in the Philippines,” Speaker Faustino Dy III said in a statement on Monday. “If the president can temporarily lift the excise tax, that is up to P10 per liter for gasoline and P6 per liter for diesel that can be taken off the price that people pay,” Dy said. – Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian called on the government to adopt belt-tightening measures such as limiting official travel and suspension of vehicle purchases or upgrades to conserve energy and reduce operational costs, warning that the war in the Middle East could lead to economic instability. He said conservation measures could include energy-saving methods on top of the four-day workweek that many government agencies have begun to implement. He said the government could also devise an arrangement that would encourage carpooling and a return to virtual meetings adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic. WITH REINA C. TOLENTINO AND BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO