The Philippines has secured enough petroleum to last 64 days, the Department of Energy disclosed to lawmakers Monday, combining the country’s current stock with a freshly placed order covering an additional two weeks.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin presented the figures to the Senate Protect committee based on inventory data as of April 10, showing an average supply of 50.31 days that stretches to 64 when the new order is factored in.
Broken down by product, gasoline leads with 54.38 days of coverage, followed by diesel at 48.9 days and liquefied petroleum gas at 36.27 days. Stocks of less common petroleum products run considerably longer — kerosene at 104.73 days, jet fuel at 67.65 days, and fuel oil at 45.96 days.
Storage constraints rule out any push toward the 90-to-120-day buffer that some senators had raised. Garin explained that the country’s tank capacity simply cannot hold that volume at once.
“They don’t normally extend that long because the storage capacity isn’t enough… It rolls over,” she said.
The reliability of supply commitments also varies depending on where the oil originates. Garin drew a sharp distinction between suppliers, noting that South Korean exporters honor long-term contracts consistently, while deliveries from Chinese government-linked companies do not always follow through even when contracts are in place — unlike private Chinese suppliers, which she said are permitted to proceed.
“It’s a case-to-case basis because it’s country-to-country. For example, South Korea, as long as you have long-term contracts, they’ve committed to honor. China, for example, even if you have a long-term contract, but if your contract is with a government company, then it will not be delivered, Mr. Chair. But if it’s private, it’s allowed,” she said.
Because supplier delivery timelines differ, the DOE said it cannot issue advance estimates with any reliable precision.
