By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Diesel prices may climb to as high as P107 per liter next week as supply costs from depots continue to rise, a gas station owner here said, raising fears of possible fuel shortages if supplies are not replenished.
Wilmar Sabana, owner of the Supreme Gas Station, said the price of diesel at fuel depots had already reached about P85 per liter, forcing independent stations to prepare for another sharp increase.
“As of now, the depot price is already around P85 per liter. Next week it could reach about P107 per liter for diesel,” Sabana said in an interview.
Sabana said small independent fuel retailers like his station rely heavily on depot supplies and could face serious problems if replenishment slows.
“Our concern is that the country reportedly has only about one-and-a-half months of fuel reserves. If there is no replenishment, we will have nothing to buy and we may have to close,” he said.
He added that smaller stations cannot easily purchase fuel from major oil firms such as Petron Corporation or Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, which operate their own distribution systems and depots.
Sabana also noted that some fuel suppliers have already stopped selling diesel, further tightening supply for independent stations.
Large oil companies like Chevron Philippines Inc., which operates Caltex stations, may be able to maintain supply longer because of their larger depots and reserves, he said.
The rising fuel prices are already affecting daily economic activity in the town.
Sabana said fewer tricycle drivers are roaming the streets in search of passengers as they try to conserve fuel.
“You will notice now in San Francisco that only a few tricycles are moving around. Many drivers just wait for passengers instead of driving around because gasoline is expensive,” he said.
The Department of Energy has previously assured the public that the Philippines has sufficient fuel supply, but retailers warn that prolonged supply disruptions could push prices even higher in the coming weeks.
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