Marilyn Cahatol

Fuel prices are displayed at a gasoline station in Quezon City on April 7, following another round of fuel price hikes. Oil companies raised gasoline prices by as much as P5.90 per liter and diesel by up to P19.80 per liter, marking one of the largest increases in recent weeks. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

OIL PRICE HIKE

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177675079348420260407-oil-price-hike-quezon-city-MT6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fuel prices are displayed at a gasoline station in Quezon City on April 7, following another round of fuel price hikes. Oil companies raised gasoline prices by as much as P5.90 per liter and diesel by up to P19.80 per liter, marking one of the largest increases in recent weeks. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson expressed support for the move of the Department of Energy (DOE) to set the minimum and maximum fuel price adjustments.</p><p>DOE Secretary Sharon Garin has said this authority is part of the declaration of a state of national energy emergency.</p><p>In a statement on Tuesday, Lacson said that government as long as the DOE’s computations are reasonable, &quot;this is better than just allowing oil firms to dictate prices of fuel.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/14/how-much-have-fuel-prices-risen-since-the-start-of-the-mideast-conflict-0959">How much have fuel prices risen since the start of the Mideast conflict</a></div><p>“Kung tutuusin, binibigyan pa nga ng karapatan ang estado sa ilalim ng RA 8479 or Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act (Under RA 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act), to quote, ‘when public interest so requires, the DOE may, during the period of the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any person or entity engaged in the industry,’” he added.</p><p>Senate President Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III said it is correct for the DOE to set the minimum and maximum price.</p><p>&quot;Dapat. Ako, lahat ng kilos na ginagawa nila para i-address yung oil crisis, I agree, I concur. Except, gusto ko pa rin, pag-aralan pa rin nila yung sinasabi ko na alisin natin yung oil deregulation law. Ibalik natin sa dati para makokontrol ng gobyerno. Kasi, okay, sinasabi nila may rollback, may ganito, ganyan. Pwede na ba nating tanungin kung magkano bili nila? Pwede na ba natin tanungin, kailan nila nabili? Eh yun yung mga pwede nung wala yung oil regulation law. Eh ngayon na meron na yun, hindi, wala lahat yun eh,&quot; Sotto said in an interview.</p><p>Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said the DOE’s mandate to set adjustments in pump prices &quot;is a timely relief given the rate of increases in fuel prices that we have seen since March.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I have long advocated for the unbundling of fuel prices to ensure that any increase is neither arbitrary nor without basis, especially to the detriment of ordinary Filipino households as well as micro and small businesses,” Gatchalian said in a statement.</p><p>“As the country is fully dependent on imports to meet local requirements for fuel, the public deserves to know the math. The DOE must clearly explain how oil companies compute price increases. Also, the government should continue to exercise its emergency powers to regulate in the interest of consumers,” he continued.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/16/house-bills-filed-for-fuel-regulatory-board-strategic-oil-reserve-1716">House bills filed for fuel regulatory board, strategic oil reserve, food supply protection amid oil crisis</a></div><p>He said the Senate would continue to monitor prices of petroleum products to ensure that increases are justified.</p><p>Senator Joel Villanueva, for his part, said he recognizes and appreciates the DOE&#x27;s implementation of limits.</p><p>&quot;By establishing clear and enforceable caps, the DOE can help prevent, which is within its power, potential abuse and unjustified price hikes by oil companies, ensuring that fairness and accountability prevail in the industry,&quot; Villanueva said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;But we call for stricter monitoring and the imposition of stronger penalties on oil companies that fail to comply with these directives as well as more proactive and decisive actions that anticipates challenges and protects the public from further economic strain,&quot; he added.</p><p>Sen. Imee Marcos, meanwhile, lamented the supposed late announcement of the DOE. She pointed out that this should have been done right after the declaration of the state of national energy emergency.</p><p>“Wala namang nagbago sa kapangyarihan ng gobyerno at ng DOE sa ilalim ng mandato nito sa RA 7638 o DOE Law. Nakakalungkot lang na kung kelan pababa na ang presyo eh tsaka magsasabi ang DOE na may kapangyarihan silang maglimita ng pagtaas ng presyo at magpatupad ng minimum na rollback,” Marcos said in a statement.  </p><p>“Ngayon lang ata nila naaral ang kapangyarihan nila sa ilalim ng batas. Kung kelan marami ng tumigil pumasadang mga PUV driver, marami ng magsasakang hindi nakapag-ani at marami ng mangingisdang hindi nakapalaot at nawalan ng international orders eh tsaka pa lang nila naisip ito. Dapat pagkadeklara pa lang ng National Emergy Emergency ay gumalaw na sila para kontrolin ang presyo,” she added. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/another-nationwide-transport-strike-kicks-off-1059">Another nationwide transport strike kicks off</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tB6m4iNZFCs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div>

<p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson expressed support for the move of the Department of Energy (DOE) to set the minimum and maximum fuel price adjustments.</p>

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson expressed support for the move of the Department of Energy (DOE) to set the minimum and maximum fuel price adjustments.

Senators back DOE in setting fuel price adjustment limits

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Senators back DOE in setting fuel price adjustment limits

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 21, 2026 02:00 PM PHT

|

Updated April 21, 2026 04:32 PM PHT

Read More:

doe

fuel price adjustment

state of national energy emergency

ping lacson

sherwin gatchalian

imee marcos

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