The Philippine government on Tuesday (April 21) assured the public of continued energy security, saying the country maintains a 52-day oil supply buffer amid ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting global fuel markets.

In a Malacañang press briefing, Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro reported that as of April 21, a total of 471,000 barrels of oil have already been delivered, while up to one million barrels have been confirmed under existing procurement orders.

Castro said the administration is taking proactive steps to prevent supply disruptions and cushion the impact of rising global oil prices, which have been driven in part by instability in the Middle East.

“Patuloy na sinisiguro ng pamahalaan na mayroon tayong sapat na suplay para tuluy-tuloy lang ang trabaho at mga serbisyo,” she said.

The Palace emphasized that maintaining adequate fuel reserves is critical to sustaining economic activity and avoiding further inflationary pressure, particularly on transport and basic goods.

Government agencies are also working to ensure uninterrupted fuel distribution nationwide, as part of broader efforts to shield consumers from volatility in the global energy market.

Meanwhile, close to one million public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers have received government assistance as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.

The Palace also noted that some 425,000 drivers in Metro Manila were covered under the TUPAD Tuloy Pasada pilot program, which provides temporary employment and financial support to transport workers affected by high fuel costs.

Castro said the assistance forms part of the government’s broader response to global oil price volatility, aiming to ease the burden on drivers and help sustain public transport operations.

The administration earlier assured the continued rollout of targeted interventions for vulnerable sectors as it works to mitigate the effects of rising fuel prices on daily livelihoods.

-Paraluman News