APRIL 20, 2026 — The government has stepped in with new fuel price adjustment limits, forcing oil companies to comply with minimum rollbacks and maximum hikes amid a declared national energy emergency. Diesel prices are set to drop by ₱24.94 per liter, gasoline by ₱3.41, and kerosene by ₱2.00 starting April 21, 2026 — changes that will directly hit the wallets of Pinoy commuters and drivers.

The Department of Energy (DOE), under Secretary Sharon Garin, is now exercising powers granted by Executive Order No. 110, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which declared a state of national energy emergency. This move allows the government to dictate the range of fuel price adjustments.

Garin clarified: “Hindi tayo nagka-cap sa presyo mismo, pero kina-cap natin ‘yung adjustments.” 

(We don’t put a cap on the price itself, but we put a cap on the adjustments.)

This means oil firms can’t roll back less than the mandated minimum, nor can they hike prices beyond the DOE’s ceiling. For example, if the DOE orders a rollback of ₱24.94 for diesel, companies must match or exceed it. If the DOE sets a ₱10 maximum increase, firms can’t go higher.

For jeepney drivers, delivery riders, and ordinary motorists, this is more than policy — it’s survival. A ₱24.94 cut in diesel is massive, potentially easing transport fares and household budgets. But it’s clear that the government now holds the reins, and oil companies must follow.

The DOE insists this isn’t arbitrary, stressing that adjustments remain tied to market formulas. Still, the intervention raises questions about how long this emergency control will last, and whether it truly protects consumers or simply delays the inevitable volatility of global oil markets.

Global tensions — from the Middle East conflict to the Strait of Hormuz blockade — continue to shake oil prices. The Philippines, heavily dependent on imports, is vulnerable. By capping adjustments, the government hopes to shield us from sudden shocks. 

But critics may ask: Does this undermine the spirit of deregulation, or is it the only way to keep the economy afloat in crisis?

Will government-imposed limits on fuel price adjustments truly protect the Filipino public, or will they only mask deeper problems in our energy dependence?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)