• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, March 3 reminded Capitol offices to be circumspect and conscious in the usage of government vehicles.
He issued the reminder as oil prices are expected to increase further, following the United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran.
While he is hoping that there will be no gas rationing, Lacson said it is a possibility as he encouraged Negrenses to continue praying for the speedy resolution of the armed conflict.
Fuel prices could increase by up to P10 per liter in the coming weeks as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to affect global oil markets, the Department of Energy – Oil Industry Management Bureau said Tuesday.
Even before the recent incidents in the Middle East, Lacson said they have engaged in fuel-saving activities through the implementation of the Capitol Cab System, a service accessible to all provincial government employees.
“We are still hoping for the best,” Lacson said, adding that the Iranian blockade of the Hormuz Strait, which threatens 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, will force suppliers to use longer route.
The City of Manila already slashed its fuel consumption by 50 percent to ensure that emergency and health services remain unaffected by a looming global energy shortage.
The Department of Agriculture is also exploring ways to mitigate the potential impact of oil shocks on the country’s food systems amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned that prolonged tension could quickly affect the country’s agriculture sector through adjustments on fuel and fertilizer prices as well as freight costs.
“We have seen this during past oil shocks, and we are now looking at ways to manage the impact on our food systems and on the country’s food security,” he said. | GB with PNA reports
