PH Wants Hormuz Reopened ASAP as Oil Panic Starts Hitting Home

The Philippines is pushing for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as the Middle East war continues to squeeze global fuel supply lines. Speaking in Paris, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the strategic waterway must be made safe again not just for ships and crews, but for Filipino consumers already getting slammed by high power and fuel costs.

Teodoro’s remarks came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency, citing threats to domestic fuel supply and broader energy stability. Iran has effectively shut down much of the strait following the US-Israeli strikes that triggered the current conflict, and that has helped push oil and gas prices sharply higher worldwide.

Ang point ni Teodoro: reopening the passage is not just a military or diplomatic issue — it’s an economic survival issue too. He said poor Filipinos end up carrying the burden when electricity and transport costs spike, which is why the reopening has to happen quickly and under conditions that shipping and insurance players can accept.

Teodoro also stressed that insurers and ship owners will heavily influence what happens next. If vessels cannot get adequate maritime insurance, trade traffic will remain stuck or severely limited even if governments try to organize safe passage through the channel.

Several countries, including France, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan, have already signaled readiness to support efforts to secure the route. Military talks are expected this week, with London and Paris helping coordinate a possible coalition response as pressure builds to get one of the world’s most critical chokepoints moving again.

Source: The Manila Times