Manila, Philippines – Parañaque City 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan called on the government and private sectors to consider the temporary implementation of work-from-home setups and online classes.
This follows the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, where the Philippines primarily imports its petroleum.
He also mentioned that if the stable supply of petroleum products in the Philippines is not maintained, a potential increase in the prices of diesel, gasoline, kerosene, and other products may be imminent.
According to Congressman Yamsuan, the transport sector, fare increases, and some basic commodities will be primarily affected by the possible oil price hike, which he described as a domino effect if not promptly addressed.
Although the DOE has previously warned the public not to easily believe everything read or seen online regarding possible price increases.
The Inter-Agency Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC), together with the DOE and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), had already ordered a 10% reduction in fuel consumption among all government entities to save costs.
As of now, the DOE has not yet released any price estimates or official statements regarding the movement of petroleum prices nationwide.
They continue to carefully study data from the global market and observe one week’s price movement of petroleum and oil before making a final decision.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian had earlier called for a 4-day workweek, which Malacañang said could be considered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but it is not yet being discussed at this time.
Following this, the senator also urged the DOE to form an energy task force focused on protecting the country from the impending rise in energy and petroleum prices and to prevent supply shortages due to the worsening effects of the conflict in the Middle East.