Motorists and households will welcome a bigger price drop for gasoline this week, but diesel users face higher costs as fuel companies implement mixed changes for the third week running, the Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed Monday.
Gasoline prices are set to fall by P4.30 per liter, while kerosene will go down by P1 per liter. In contrast, diesel prices will rise by P2.60 per liter. Firms including Seaoil and Jetti Petroleum confirmed matching adjustments taking effect Tuesday.
For many families, the reduction in gasoline costs offers modest relief for personal commuting and household errands, especially after last week’s P1.56 per liter increase. But the uptick in diesel — a staple for public transport, delivery fleets, and freight — is expected to translate into slightly higher operational costs for small and medium businesses, with some transport groups watching closely whether jeepney and truck fares may need adjustment. Kerosene users, meanwhile, get a small reprieve of P1 per liter, helping ease expenses for lighting and cooking among lower-income households.
As of October 13–19, fuel prices in Metro Manila average P87.90 per liter for regular gasoline, P91.40 for diesel, and P124.40 for kerosene. Costs remain far higher than levels seen before the Middle East conflict began, when regular gasoline averaged just P53 per liter and diesel P60.79 in late February.
Leo Bellas, president of Jetti Petroleum, explained the mixed movement came from global shifts: emergency stock releases by International Energy Agency members, a US–Russia diesel agreement, and China’s October approval of more refined fuel exports all helped ease prices. Gasoline dropped further because of softer demand and growing supplies across Asia. Still, he noted that relief was limited — Brent crude hit $110 a barrel recently — as lingering fears over Middle East supply constraints kept overall oil prices elevated.
