THE Department of Energy (DOE) allayed fears of the public regarding the supply of petroleum products in the country.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, Rodela Romero, Assistant Director of the Oil Industry Management Bureau of the DOE, said that the country has enough supply of petroleum products so there is no need to worry.
Romero’s announcement came after China advised that it will not export petroleum products to neighboring countries, including the Philippines.
However, she said oil companies assured that China is not their only source of imported oil supply. She said oil firms are now looking at other countries as possible sources of petroleum products.
Romero said that the only problem is that if they buy it at a higher price, they will also sell it in the country at a higher price as well.
That is why the government cannot do anything to curb the increase in prices of petroleum products because it really depends on the movement of oil prices in the international market.
Romero emphasized that they understand the effects on the public of the high prices of petroleum products but all countries are also experiencing problems in the supply of oil because of worldwide events such as the war between Russia and Ukraine.
That is why Romero appealed to all sectors to just help each other and not resort to holding rallies because the government is exhausting all measures to mitigate the impact of the continuous increases in the prices of petroleum products.