Philippine Fuel Prices Surge Again as Oil Shock Hits the Pump
Philippine fuel prices are rising sharply for a second week as Middle East supply risks lift imported energy costs. The shock is intensifying pressure for driver aid and temporary tax relief.
Oil price hike expected September 15, 2026
Fuel prices keep climbing as big hike takes effect September 15
Big fuel price hikes expected on Sept 15 — DOE
Gasoline, diesel prices to rise about P5/liter
Fuel prices seen rising further as Middle East conflict escalates
A second weekly shock at the forecourt
Philippine motorists face another steep increase on September 15, a move flagged by the Department of Energy and regional news outlets before the new prices took effect.facebook +1 The benchmark adjustments are 5.68 pesos a liter for gasoline, 4.31 pesos for diesel and 4.62 pesos for kerosene.rappler +1
The move follows similarly large increases a week earlier, making this the second consecutive week of sharp price gains. Gasoline rose by 4.69 pesos a liter in the previous adjustment, while diesel climbed by 5.18 pesos and kerosene by 5.58 pesos.rappler
Imported energy risk reaches drivers
The Philippines imports most of its fuel, leaving domestic prices exposed to global crude costs, exchange rates and disruption along major shipping routes. About 98% of its crude imports come from the Middle East, according to BusinessWorld.bworldonline The latest pressure follows an attack that shut Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline and renewed concern over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.rappler +1
The increases will lift some Metro Manila pump prices above 100 pesos a liter. BusinessWorld projected gasoline at roughly 107 pesos, diesel above 111 pesos and kerosene near 141 pesos after the adjustment.bworldonline That raises immediate costs for private motorists and public transport operators, while also threatening broader increases in freight and consumer prices.
Relief measures face a high threshold
Transport group Manibela staged a nationwide strike on September 14 and called for more support for public-utility drivers. The government has maintained a subsidy for qualified drivers, with the discount increased to 12 pesos a liter from August 15 through September.rappler
Officials are also weighing another suspension of excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene. The Department of Energy said the 30-day average for Dubai crude reached $99.41 a barrel as of September 11, well above the $80 trigger for a recommendation; removing the levy could cut kerosene by 5.60 pesos a liter and LPG by 3.36 pesos a kilogram.bworldonline
The risk extends beyond this week's receipts. Brent crude gained almost 9% in the preceding week and traded above $107 a barrel as attacks and shipping threats tightened supply expectations.bworldonline Prolonged disruption could filter through freight, food and other consumer prices, increasing pressure on policymakers to cushion vulnerable households without obscuring the cost of imported energy.