Price Freeze in Play? Palace Says Fuel Cap Still on the Table

Malacañang said on Friday that a proposed price freeze on petroleum products is still being studied as Filipinos deal with four straight weeks of steep pump price increases. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is trying to balance consumer relief with the realities facing the oil industry.

Castro said officials are not ruling out a freeze, but they want any move to be fair and legally sound. In her briefing, she stressed that the state has to protect the public without creating a situation where only one sector takes the hit.

She also linked the review to the broader national energy emergency, saying global oil supply disruptions are affecting both fuel availability and prices in the Philippines. The Palace said the government wants to act quickly, pero within the limits of existing law.

Among the measures already cited by the administration are Department of Energy guidelines allowing the use of cheaper fuel and more power generation from coal and renewable sources. Castro also said the Energy Regulatory Commission suspended the electricity market to allow more use of coal, renewables, and gas from Malampaya.

For island areas, the government is also looking at securing lower-cost diesel for the National Power Corporation to help avoid blackouts. Castro added that renewable energy developers are being pushed to finish projects early, while the successful Camago-3 drilling is expected to extend Malampaya's life and support more stable power supply.

Source: The Manila Times — https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/03/27/news/palace-govt-studying-proposed-fuel-price-freeze/2309383