• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The fifth straight week of price increases for gasoline, and the second for diesel and kerosene will take effect on Tuesday, April 16.
Oil companies announced over the weekend that diesel could increase by P0.80 to P1 per liter, gasoline by P0.20 to P0.40/L, and kerosene by P0.60 to P1/L.
The exact adjustments will be known today, April 15.
On April 9, oil companies also implemented a per liter increase in gasoline by P1.10, diesel by P1.55, and P1.40 for kerosene.
“The week-on-week price of Dubai crude has increased by almost $4.00 per barrel,” the Department of Energy Oil Monitor showed, adding that the “international price of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene also increased by about $2.40, $3.60, and $3.40 per barrel, respectively.”
“Crude oil prices trended higher as Middle East tensions flare despite US inventory build and on positive economic readings from China. Israel also heightened its air defense command in an attempt to combat a possible missile or drone attack from Iran, bringing about worries over potential supply disruption,” the DOE added.
As per the DOE, price adjustments of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene stood at a per liter net increase of P9.30, P6.05, and P1.40, respectively, since the start of this year.
Meanwhile, a price freeze for household Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in cylinders 11-kilogram and below, and kerosene products, is now in effect in San Enrique town, Negros Occidental.
Mayor Jilson Tubillara earlier said the Sangguniang Bayan approved April 8 the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare a state of calamity in the town as drought damage reached P9.9 million, with 600 farmers affected. | CGC
