LUCENA CITY, Philippines--Petron gasoline stations stopped their operations since Sunday morning in protest of the oil price cap being imposed by the government.

Drivers of private and public transportation vehicles were surprised when a Petron station closed late in the morning and fenced off the premises of the service station with ropes.

“If the government cannot not find an immediate solution to the dilemma of gas companies, it’s the public that would suffer,” said Boy Esteban, a bank employee waiting for his turn at the gas pump at the still opened Shell Station in Barangay (village) Iyam along Maharlika Highway.

The Shell station attendant said they still had plenty of premium and unleaded gas in their tank, as of Sunday. But she said, “we are already out of diesel since yesterday (Saturday).”

When asked if Shell, too, would close shop, she said the station owner had not given an order to do so.

There was none of the usual traffic on the city streets as most private motorists opted to stay at home to save gasoline.