BACOLOD CITY – As oil prices are expected to go up further, following United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded Capitol offices to be circumspect and conscious in the usage of government vehicles.
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 (DOE-OIMB) said recently.
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.
Even before the recent series of incidents in the Middle East, Lacson said they have been engaged in fuel saving activities, through the implementation of the Capitol Cab System, which makes its services accessible to all provincial government employees.
While the present situation in the Middle East does not look good, we are still hoping for the best, the governor 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 a longer route.
This will increase the cost of fuel, Lacson said.
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 (DA) 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, DA 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. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds with PNA reports, photo by Richard Caballero Jr. tvds)
tags: bacolod, negros, occidental, provincial, government, laurel, governor, lacson, fuel, consumption, iran, war, gasoline, price, increase