The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confirmed that the Philippines holds a significant surplus of petroleum products compared to last year, debunking claims of a supply thinning despite reports of hundreds of gasoline stations closing across the country.
Speaking in an interview with DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno noted that the volume of imported fuel entering the country remains not only stable but is actually on the rise.
According to official BOC records from January 1 to March 20, 2025, the country imported a total of 4,035,143 metric tons of petroleum products, including diesel, gasoline, aviation gas, LPG, and kerosene. This marks an increase of 315,833 metric tons compared to the same period in 2025.
"Kung pagbabasehan po natin yung dami ng mga pumasok, normal nga po," Nepomuceno stated.
"Yung volume mismo ay normal. Mas marami pa nga po sa last year. Ang umaangat po yung presyo. Kung tutuusin, hindi pa dapat umangat yung presyo natin. Kaya tama naman po, wala tayong crisis. Pagdating po sa volume, sa supply po, normal po yung volume natin."
The Commissioner also noted that despite global tensions, the shipments from the Middle East via regional hubs like Singapore and Taiwan remain steady, typically taking about 20 days to arrive.
The BOC also highlighted the high stakes of the current fuel landscape. Nepomuceno reported that projected excise tax collections for 2025 sit between P200 billion and P230 billion, representing roughly 25% of the Bureau’s total revenue.
While Congress is deliberating on a bill to suspend these taxes to provide consumer relief, the BOC is awaiting a final decision from Malacañang.
NBI Planning Fact-Finding Mission
Following the BOC’s revelation of a supply surplus, NBI Director Melvin Matibag announced that the bureau will plan to mobilize a team to investigate why approximately 400 gasoline stations have reportedly shut down due to alleged "lack of stock."
"Magbubuo kami ng team para bisitahin po yung randomly yung mga gasolinahan para tanungin po at i-check po sila kung wala talagang supply yung gasolinahan kaya po nagsara,” Matibag told DZRH News.
The NBI is looking into potential violations of Republic Act 7581 (The Price Act), specifically targeting hoarding, profiteering, and "cartel behavior."
“Baka may pag-uusap-usap to create a scenario na talagang merong shortage na malaki at ito will amount to economic sabotage which will give even greater penalty sa mga mahuhuli at papapatunayan na lumalabag sa mga batas na ito.”
Matibag warned that if businesses are found to be intentionally creating a "scenario" of shortage to manipulate the market, it could be classified as large-scale economic sabotage.
"So malawak po na investigation at talagang ito po, pasok na pasok po sa mandato ng National Bureau of Investigation para tutukan at tingnan po yung pangyayari.”
The NBI's investigation will be conducted motu proprio (on its own impulse), in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
On Monday, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro announced that President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of a “crisis committee” to addrress the country’s fuel, food supply and protect consumers from potential disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Castro also noted that the Philippines does not currently face an oil crisis, citing Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin.
“Sa ngayon po, sa payo na rin ni Secretary [Sharon] Garin sa ating Pangulo, wala pa po tayong maaaring tawaging oil crisis sa bansa”.
