Palace: PH facing ‘price disruption,’ not yet an oil crisis
MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Monday supported Energy Secretary Sharon Garin’s statement that the country is not yet experiencing an oil crisis but is instead facing a “price disruption” caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
At a briefing, Castro said there is still a sufficient supply of fuel products in the Philippines and that the government is taking measures to ensure the country does not run out of fuel.
“When we say oil crisis, it is also clear what Secretary Sharon Garin of the DOE [Department of Energy] said, that at present, we are not yet considering that we have an oil crisis because our oil supply is complete and sufficient,” she explained in Filipino.
She added that the Philippines is negotiating with other countries regarding the possible importation of up to 600,000 barrels of fuel.
Citing Garin, Castro explained that there are two types of crisis: supply and price.
“So, if we’re talking about supply, we cannot say that there is a crisis in terms of supply. However, there may be price disruptions due to the ongoing oil crisis in the Middle East,” she said in Filipino.
Castro also announced that a “crisis committee” is being formed to ensure the continued supply of food and petroleum products in the country.
READ: Palace: ‘Crisis committee’ being finalized to address food, fuel supplies
She explained that this move is intended to streamline the government’s response to any further effects of the Middle East conflict.
“To be more systematic and organized, so that someone is focused on the situation, because we should always be prepared. We cannot be sleeping soundly amid what is happening in the Middle East right now. As the saying goes, ‘the proactive beats the diligent,'” she said in Filipino.
READ: Farmers’ group hits Garin over ‘no oil crisis’ remark
In a radio interview on March 17, Garin defended her earlier statement that there is no oil crisis in the country.
“There is no supply crisis in other things. It’s really just the price, because neither the DOE nor the oil companies can control the international market. When I think of a crisis, I think we would run out of supply, but that hasn’t happened yet,” she said in a DZMM interview.
The group Anakpawis criticized Garin for downplaying the country’s situation.
“The oil crisis goes beyond the issue of stockpiles; it has always been about affordability and accessibility, especially for the public. It may not be a crisis situation for Energy Secretary Garin, but for marginalized people like farmers, fisherfolk, workers, and the urban poor, this is already becoming a matter of daily survival,” the group said in a statement on March 21.
“If the government still does not treat what is happening now as a crisis, it is no longer surprising that the response to the relentless surge in oil prices has been this slow and insufficient,” Anakpawis National President Ariel Casilao said. /mcm
