MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE) Local oil companies, led by the major oil players, have raised prices of diesel, kerosene and regular gasoline by 50 centavos a liter, beginning Wednesday.

Seaoil Philippines, Petron Corp. and Chevron (formerly Caltex) have also raised prices of their premium and unleaded gasoline by 25 centavos a liter.

The three companies, which made their respective announcements Tuesday night, explained that the latest oil price increase was due to last week?s rise in the prices of finished petroleum products in the international market.

Other oil companies had not made their respective announcements, as of posting time.

The latest price increase had brought the cost of unleaded gasoline at P41 to P44 a liter; unleaded gasoline with E-10 from P41 to P46 a liter; diesel at P33 to P35 a liter; and kerosene, P37 to P47 a liter.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that the Dubai crude averaged $72 a barrel as of July 28, still lower than the previous month?s $74-a-barrel average.

The price of unleaded gasoline, based on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) benchmark for refined petroleum products was also slightly lower at an average of $82 a barrel as of July 28, from $83 a barrel in June.

MOPS-based diesel prices are also still lower during the July 1-28 period at $86 a barrel, compared to last month's $87 a barrel average.