Marcos Wants Safe Passage Deal for PH Oil Tankers as Hormuz Stays Tense
Tag: Nation
Person/Subject: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to begin talks with Iran to secure safe passage for oil tankers headed to the Philippines. The instruction comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.
According to The Manila Times, Palace officials said the move is aimed at protecting the country’s oil deliveries while hostilities remain unresolved. The Strait of Hormuz handles a massive share of global petroleum traffic, so anumang disruption doon can quickly hit fuel-importing countries like the Philippines.
Malacañang said DFA Secretary Tess Lazaro is expected to engage with the Iranian ambassador as part of this effort. The administration is banking on the Philippines’ diplomatic ties with Iran to help open a channel for negotiation and reduce the risk of supply interruptions.
The push for talks also follows calls from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who urged the government to move at a high level and prevent Philippine-bound shipments from being caught in the blockade. The concern is simple: if oil cargoes are delayed, consumers here could end up paying even more for fuel and basic goods.
This development shows the energy crisis is no longer just about prices at the pump. It has become a foreign policy problem too, and the Marcos government is now trying to use diplomacy—not just subsidies and tax tools—to keep the country’s fuel lifeline open.
Source: The Manila Times
