The Philippine government stated that it was exploring alternative oil suppliers and holding talks with non-traditional sources, such as China, India, and Russia, to help maintain a stable fuel supply amid global market uncertainty and price volatility. On March 25, 2026, President
Bongbong Marcos signed into law Republic Act (RA) 12316, authorizing him until December 31, 2028, to suspend or reduce
excises on petroleum products for up to three months to address rising oil prices. That day, the
Department of Budget and Management also approved the release of from the
Malampaya gas fund to the
DOE to secure fuel supply and stabilize availability amid global disruptions. The funds were allocated to procure fuel and support emergency energy measures, with procurement initiated by the state-owned
Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corporation (PNOCEC) to help prevent shortages and maintain essential services. On April 11, Energy Secretary
Sharon Garin announced the arrival of about 329,000 barrels of diesel from Malaysia, part of a 900,000-barrel shipment procured by PNOCEC that was scheduled for delivery in three batches in April.
Petron Corporation ordered 700,000 barrels of oil from Russia, taking advantage of the United States' thirty-day waiver on countries purchasing
sanctioned Russian petroleum products already at sea. The U.S. sanctions were in place due to the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Philippine government said that it was working to obtain similar waivers from other U.S.-sanctioned countries. The
Department of Agriculture activated from its
quick-response fund following the declaration of a national energy emergency, allocating for fuel subsidies to fisherfolk and another ₱500 million for fertilizer procurement, with rollout expected in May after the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk program. On April 2, Iranian foreign minister
Abbas Araghchi assured his Philippine counterpart, Secretary
Tess Lazaro, that Philippine vessels, energy shipments, and Filipino seafarers would be allowed safe and unhindered passage through the strait. The
Department of Education (DepEd) has allowed private schools to shift to
flexible learning, including online classes, in response to the national energy emergency. DepEd also implemented a four-day workweek for school-based non-teaching staff and related teaching personnel, while
remote work arrangements are implemented every Friday. On April 13, 2026, President Marcos said the government removed excises on
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and
kerosene to help ease rising fuel costs for households. The measure, implemented under RA 12316, was expected to reduce prices by about per liter for LPG and per liter for kerosene. The
Civil Aeronautics Board said
fuel surcharges for passenger and cargo flights would increase to Level 19 for April 16–30, 2026, from Level 8 earlier in the month due to rising fuel costs. The adjustment raised additional charges to – for domestic passenger flights and – for international passenger flights, depending on distance. For cargo services, surcharges rose to – for domestic flights and – for international flights. The
PNP has been monitoring fuel stations, supply depots, and other critical energy infrastructure nationwide to deter illegal activities and ensure continued access to essential services.
Local responses Due to the energy crisis, a
state of calamity was declared in the provinces of
Cagayan and
Sorsogon, the cities of
Baguio and
Zamboanga City, and in the towns of
Ajuy and
New Lucena in
Iloilo,
Calanasan in
Apayao, and
Paracelis in
Mountain Province. A
state of local emergency was also declared in
Bongao in
Tawi-Tawi, as well as in
Cagayan de Oro. ==Reactions==