MANILA, Philippines — Motorists going on a road trip for the long weekend are in for a cheerful ride as oil firms slashed pump prices nationwide, including disaster-stricken Cebu and Bohol.
Price cuts nationwide (except in Cebu and Bohol) were as follows: gasoline — P0.40 per liter; kerosene — P0.45 per liter; and diesel — P0.50 per liter diesel.
In Cebu and in Bohol, oil firms adjusted pump prices as follows: gasoline — P0.20 per liter; kerosene — P0.10 per liter; and diesel — P0.50 per liter. It might be recalled that the two provinces were spared last week’s price hikes for gasoline and kerosene.
Shell, Petron, Seaoil, and PTT Philippines said in separate advisories they would implement price rollbacks starting 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 27.
Other oil firms have not announced their price adjustments but are expected to impose similar price cuts within the week. Oil firms tend to track each other’s prices as nearly all of the country’s fuel products are imported.
Year-to-date, net increases in gasoline prices stood at P0.74/liter while diesel prices stood at P2.28/liter.
According to the Department of Energy’s Oil Monitor as of Oct. 22, oil prices seesawed during the trading week as reports of rising stockpiles in the U.S. and weak payroll data indicated weak demand in the world’s No. 2 oil consumer next to China. Adding to volatility was some price support on continued speculation over the Syrian crisis.
The weak dollar at Friday’s close amid lower orders for U.S. durable goods and a disappointing job creation report during the week also made greenback-priced commodities (such as oil) cheaper.
The Oil Monitor also noted some slowdown in the Asian gasoil/diesel market on expectation of softer demand in November. “Indonesia, one of the region’s biggest importers, is expected to consume less next month after the Eid al-Adha holidays in October. Vietnam is also expected to have less imports on foreseen sluggish domestic consumption and sufficient domestic supplies. As such, supply will likely build with more Indian cargoes expected to hit the Asian market,” the Oil Monitor report said.
The government has declared October 28 as a special non-working holiday to allow Filipinos to vote in the barangay elections.
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