Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More Filipinos are tightening their belts, ditching their cars, holding back on travel, and bracing for the worst as conflict in the Middle East, which is also called West Asia, continues to push the cost of fuel up.An elderly couple at a bus station in Cubao, Quezon City said they usually take their private vehicle to visit their home in Nueva Ecija from Batangas.“Eh mahal nga po ang gas, mahal po ang gasolina, kaya nag-commute na lang po kami,” Rosie Fajardo said as she helped her husband carry their belongings.(Gas is so expensive, so we decided to take the bus instead).With Friday, March 20, declared a holiday, many were looking forward to a long weekend. But Lorie Lozada, a mother, said she&#x27;s staying home with their children to avoid spending.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/20/double-digit-price-hikes-for-diesel-gasoline-loom-again-next-week-1354">Double digit price hikes for diesel, gasoline loom again next week </a></div>“Sa bahay lang. At least makapagpahinga man lang, long weekend di ba,” Lozada said.(We&#x27;ll just stay at home. At least we will be able to rest during the long weekend).One of her children, who rides a motorcycle to work, will take public transport to save on fuel.“Mag-commute, mag-carousel, ganyan. Hindi muna mag-motor. Ihinto muna iyong motor sa bahay,” she said. (He&#x27;ll commute. He&#x27;ll take the EDSA Carousel. He won&#x27;t bring the motorcycle for now. He&#x27;ll just keep the motorcycle at home).Industry experts said there are several ways to cope with rising fuel costs, including limiting trips and planning travel more efficiently.“If you can walk, then walk,” said Raphael Capinpin, executive director of the Philippine Institute of Petroleum.He said that if bringing a car is inevitable, making sure tires are properly inflated and offloading unnecessary cargo would help lower fuel consumption.He also suggested carpooling to conserve fuel.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/20/fire-at-kuwait-refinery-as-gulf-states-come-under-drone-missile-attacks-1335">Fire at Kuwait refinery as Gulf states come under drone, missile attacks </a></div><div> </div><div>FUEL PRICES COULD REACH UP TO P130/LITER</div>Former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla warned that fuel prices could surge to as high as P120 to P130 per liter if tension in the Middle East, which began when the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, persists.“Kung umabot na ng three months ang gyera o mas mahaba pa, magpa-plateau siya, pero mataas ang plateau. So, I am looking at P120 or P130, which is, sa atin, unacceptable,” Petilla said.(If the war lasts three months or longer, the price will plateau but it will still be high. So I am looking at P120 or P130 per liter, which would be unacceptable for us).He also emphasized that the Philippines imports nearly all of its oil supply, making the country highly vulnerable to global price shocks.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/15/support-for-bikes-active-mobility-lacking-as-pump-prices-make-driving-painful-1614">Support for bikes, active mobility lacking as pump prices make driving painful </a></div>From March 16 to 19, world market prices rose sharply, with diesel increasing by P10 per liter, gasoline by P7, and kerosene by P13. In recent days, total increases have reached around P7 to P13 per liter.Another round of significant price hikes is expected next week, with diesel projected to rise between P14 and P15 per liter and gasoline between P11 and P12 per liter, depending on global trading movements.Capinpin said he could not say when the price increases will end.“Hanggang hindi nare-resolve iyong passage doon sa Strait of Hormuz, parang mukhang tataas pa,” he added.(Until the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is resolved, prices will probably keep going up).Amid the continued increases, PetroGazz oil company has implemented a rollback, reducing diesel and gasoline prices by P5 per liter effective Friday, in a bid to help ease the burden on consumers.

More Filipinos are tightening their belts, ditching their cars, holding back on travel, and bracing for the worst as conflict in the Middle East, which is also called West Asia, continues to push the cost of fuel up.

More Filipinos are tightening their belts, ditching their cars, holding back on travel, and bracing for the worst as conflict in the Middle East, which is also called West Asia, continues to push the cost of fuel up.

Fuel hikes force lifestyle changes

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Fuel hikes force lifestyle changes

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 20, 2026 07:39 PM PHT

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Updated March 22, 2026 11:27 AM PHT

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Oil price hike

Fuel prices

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