The Provincial Government of Quezon has begun enforcing fuel conservation measures under Executive Order No. DHT-08, Series of 2026, as an immediate response to rising oil prices driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview on DZRH's Balansyado, Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan said the order was prompted by reports of fuel price increases reaching up to ₱10 per liter, which could significantly affect the province’s operational budget.
“As you mentioned earlier, because of the tension in the Middle East, there have already been increases in gasoline prices by as much as ₱10. We have government vehicles that we use daily, so we need to put measures in place,” Tan said.
“Our funds for gasoline are limited. We want to make sure they will last until the end of the year,” she added.
The executive order directs all provincial government departments, offices, and units to adopt concrete fuel-saving strategies. These include optimizing vehicle use through carpooling, maximizing passenger capacity, scheduling trips to avoid duplication, and prioritizing only urgent and essential official travel. Non-essential out-of-province trips must be properly justified and authorized.
Tan stressed that the order is more of a reminder and reinforcement of fiscal discipline. “These are simple measures, but we believe they can have a big impact on our daily operations. Hindi dahil may service ay anywhere they can go. We must prioritize,” she said.
The governor also encouraged the shift to virtual meetings whenever possible to reduce travel expenses. “We did this during the pandemic, and it worked. In one day, we can have several meetings with attendees coming from different municipalities. If we use online platforms, we can help them save on fuel and allowances,” she explained.
While the policy applies strictly to the provincial government, Tan noted that municipalities may issue similar directives. She added that even offices with gasoline allowances must observe stricter spending, as continued price spikes may shorten the sustainability of their allocations.
Beyond cost-cutting, the measure aims to promote energy efficiency and responsible governance while ensuring uninterrupted public service delivery. “This is our simple way of helping—protecting public funds and making sure essential services continue despite global fuel volatility,” Tan said.
