News

Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is studying possible fuel tax adjustments as he led a meeting of key economic officials to address rising oil prices under a state of national energy emergency. “We need to continue to provide relief to our people and keep the economy running,” Marcos said as he presided over the UPLIFT Committee meeting, where officials reviewed recommendations from the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and discussed measures to ensure oil supply stability and expand assistance to affected sectors. The meeting comes weeks after he signed into law Republic Act 12316, which authorizes the president to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products upon the recommendation of the DBCC and in coordination with the energy department, if global oil prices hit certain thresholds. Officials said the discussions focused on how to operationalize the law in a regime of runaway oil…

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered full assistance and the immediate repatriation of the remains of a Filipina killed in a missile attack in Haifa, Israel, as he extended condolences to her family. The Israeli Embassy in Manila identified the victim as 29-year-old Lucille Jane Gershovich, who was among four members of a family killed in the April 5 strike. “Nakikiramay tayo sa pamilya ng ating kababayang nasawi sa naganap na missile attack sa Haifa, Israel. Kasama nating nagluluksa ang kanyang pamilya sa gitna ng isang trahedyang hindi dapat maranasan ninuman,” Marcos said in a social media post.  [Translation: We extend our sympathies to the family of our fellow Filipino who died in the missile attack in Haifa, Israel. We grieve with her family in the midst of a tragedy that no one should have to endure.] The president directed concerned agencies to extend “full assistance”…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has asked the Department of Justice to investigate a Facebook page and posts accused of spreading false information about the energy situation, as the government steps up efforts to curb disinformation. In a statement, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez said the move was ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and forms part of a broader campaign against fake news, particularly during what officials described as a period of energy uncertainty. “Today, upon the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Presidential Communications Office is giving teeth to our warning,” Gomez said on Tuesday, April 7. The PCO referred at least three posts for investigation, including content allegedly published by the Facebook page “Malasakit News Pilipinas,” which authorities said contained fabricated claims intended to cause public panic and confusion. Among the posts cited were a supposed “energy lockdown” meant to push consumers…

Dubai, United Arab Emirates/Washington, U.S. – Iran showed no sign of agreeing to U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that it open the Strait of Hormuz by the end of Tuesday or suffer massive attacks on its civilian infrastructure, in what would be the biggest escalation yet of the war. As the clock ticked down on Trump’s deadline to unleash “hell”, global markets were largely frozen, hesitant to bet on whether Trump would follow through on his threats or call them off as he has in the past. MKTS/GLOB Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. in Washington (midnight GMT and 3.30 a.m. in Tehran) to end its blockade of Gulf oil, saying he will otherwise destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran within four hours. Iran has rejected his demands and threatened to retaliate against infrastructure belonging to U.S. allies in the Gulf, whose desert cities would be uninhabitable without power or water.…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Shipments of 900,000 barrels of diesel will arrive this month, the Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) said. In a press briefing on Tuesday, April 7, OIMB Director Rino Abad confirmed that the first cargo from Malaysia through a Singapore-trader will arrive on April 10. The next two from north Asia and India will arrive between the second and third weeks.  This is in line with the government goal to secure buffer stock of over two million barrels.  “PNOC (Philippine National Oil Company) is still working on it, week-on-week, to procure more,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.   Garin said the government is yet to purchase Russian oil.