(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned of “a distinct possibility” of aircraft being grounded due to a looming shortage of jet fuel brought by the war in the Middle East.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Marcos cited limitations in crude oil supply and slower jet fuel production as key concerns affecting airline operations.
“With a scarcity, shall we say, the limitation now on crude supply, the refining of jet fuel takes a longer time. And so, we will have to depend on what is already readily available,” he said.
Marcos also noted that some countries have imposed restrictions on refueling foreign aircraft, forcing airlines to carry sufficient fuel for return trips.
The latest development, he said, is complicating international operations.
“When our airlines fly out, several countries have said we cannot fuel your aircraft. So, you will have to carry the fuel there and back. And that’s around here. And the long haul is going to be a much more serious problem,” Marcos said.
Asked whether the recent developments could lead to planes being grounded, Marcos said the country is hoping to avoid such a scenario but acknowledged the risk.
“We’re hoping not, but it’s a possibility. It’s a distinct possibility,” he said.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Tuesday the Philippines still has an adequate fuel supply until the second weekend of May.
Garin said the country has an average supply of about 45 days, based on discussions with fuel companies, noting that the estimated remaining domestic supply is 53.14 days for gasoline; 45.82 days for diesel; 97.93 days for kerosene; 38.62 days for jet fuel; 61.49 days for fuel oil; and 23.51 days for liquefied petroleum gas.
Hostilities in the Middle East have triggered the closure of air spaces and travel hubs in the region including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, which have left tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
As a result of rising costs, air travelers in the country will also face higher airfares starting next month.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) recently announced that flights booked from April 1-15, 2026, will see a significant airfare increase due to the lifting of the fuel surcharge to Level 8. This means an addition of up to P6,200 to ticket costs.
Domestic surcharges will range from P253 to P787, while international rates will rise to P835.05 to P6,208.98, driven by high jet fuel prices. This 15-day cycle is meant to manage extreme fuel price volatility.
Already, budget airline Cebu Pacific last Monday announced it would be scaling down its number of flights beginning April because of surging fuel crisis.
Transport relief
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced a package of transportation relief measures on Tuesday, highlighted by a 50-percent discount on train fares, reduced toll rates for public utility vehicles, and the nationwide rollout of a P2.5-billion fuel subsidy program.
Starting March 23, all passengers of LRT-2 and MRT-3 are entitled to a 50-percent fare discount, according to documents presented during a March 24 joint press conference.
Toll discounts took effect the same day for Class 1 public utility vehicles, including jeepneys and modernized jeepneys, as well as for Class 3 trucks with three or more axles and a height exceeding 7.5 feet.
The discounts vary per expressway, with savings ranging from P1 to P66 for Class 1 vehicles and P8 to P197 for Class 3 vehicles.
Beneficiaries must have RFID tags, be registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and hold a certificate of franchise.
For vehicles transporting agricultural products, the government also implemented a “Piso Ro-Ro” terminal fee, reducing rates to P1 for Class 3 and Class 4 vehicles.
At airports, reduced fees and charges will take effect on April 1. Passengers will save up to P200 per person on terminal fees, while airlines will save up to P5,000 per landing on landing fees.
The fuel subsidy program, with an approved budget of P2.5 billion, targets 245,066 driver-beneficiaries and covers 1,180,783 public utility vehicle units operated by beneficiaries. Distribution began March 24 through fuel subsidy cards, bank transfers, e-wallet transfers, and cash or check payouts. The government will shoulder all convenience fees.
Under the program, subsidy amounts vary by vehicle type.
Public bus operators will receive P10,000 per unit and drivers P5,000 each.
Modern public utility jeepney operators will receive P10,000 per unit and drivers P1,500 each.
Traditional jeepney operators will receive P5,000 per unit and drivers P1,500 each.
UV Express operators and drivers will receive P5,000 and P1,500, respectively.
Taxi operators will receive P2,000 per unit and drivers P5,000 each.
Tricycle drivers and delivery service beneficiaries are scheduled to receive their subsidies after Holy Week.
Alternative sources
The Philippines has sought help from at least five oil-producing nations to supply the country’s petroleum needs to offset the effect of high oil prices brought by the Middle East war, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told a Senate panel Tuesday.
“We already wrote letters to certain selected countries that have been identified by the DOE (Department of Energy) concerning petroleum reserves and the possibility of obtaining our petroleum needs from them,” Lazaro told the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy Committee.
The DFA chief, however, did not identify the countries.
In earlier interview, Lazaro said the Philippines is considering importing oil from Russia following the temporary lifting of sanction by the United States on Russian crude oil in transit at sea.
Garin, at the same hearing, said the Philippines is looking at India as alternative source for oil. “We’re working on that so that we’ll have a different source.” Lazaro said the Philippines, as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this year, convened the Asean foreign ministers meeting on March 4 and an emergency meeting on March 13.
She said the March 13 meeting was “geared towards this issue of the petroleum needs of the whole of Asean.” Lazaro also noted that Asean’s energy ministers met in December 2025 and came up with the Asean Framework on Petroleum Security, which “modernizes the region’s petroleum security arrangements.” Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday welcomed the president’s directive to form a government crisis committee, saying it reinforces the Senate’s earlier push for a coordinated national response framework amid escalating war in the Middle East.
Cayetano said the move aligns with the chamber’s adoption of Senate Resolution (SR) 343, which he introduced earlier this month, urging the Executive Branch to establish a National Contingency Framework to guide the country’s response to large-scale disruptions.
The resolution highlighted the Philippines’ vulnerability to global shocks, particularly conflicts affecting oil supply chains involving regions such as the Middle East. Lawmakers warned that such disruptions could quickly drive up fuel prices, transportation costs, and overall inflation. WITH BERNADETTE TAMAYO AND JAVIER JOE ISMAEL
