Walang Toll? PH Ships Get Hormuz Pass, Says DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs said Philippine-flagged vessels and energy shipments heading to the country will not be charged any toll to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, easing one of the bigger worries tied to the fuel crunch. In short, hindi raw totoo that Philippine shi
The Department of Foreign Affairs said Philippine-flagged vessels and energy shipments heading to the country will not be charged any toll to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, easing one of the bigger worries tied to the fuel crunch. In short, hindi raw totoo that Philippine ships now need to pay just to get through that route.
According to the Philstar report, the DFA flatly told reporters there is no toll fee, even after earlier reports suggested Iran had been collecting huge passage charges from oil tankers using the waterway. That clarification matters because the strait is a major chokepoint for fuel shipments moving into the region.
The same DFA statement said Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro had a productive call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. During that exchange, Tehran reportedly assured safe and speedy passage for Philippine-flagged vessels, energy cargo, and Filipino seafarers passing through the area.
That update comes at a sensitive time for Manila. The country is dealing with thinning fuel reserves, and the Marcos administration previously declared an energy emergency as officials tried to prevent a deeper supply problem. Kaya malaking bagay itong diplomatic assurance kung tuloy-tuloy ang deliveries.
For now, the Department of Energy has yet to release more details on how many additional shipments may arrive after the breakthrough. But the DFA’s clarification removes at least one immediate fear in the middle of an already tense global oil situation.
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