Capitol braces for fuel price hike

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Government has intensified its monitoring of oil supply and economic conditions as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.

The actions followed the issuance of Executive Order No. 15, Series of 2026, signed by Governor Pamela Baricuatro, directing all provincial offices, cities, and municipalities to prepare for possible fuel price hikes, food supply disruptions, and the impact of the crisis on Cebuanos working abroad.

In an interview on Tuesday, March 3, Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces acknowledged that oil price increases are expected due to global developments linked to the conflict.

He said national government interventions are already in place to help manage the situation, including efforts from the Department of National Defense (DND).

Empaces added that Baricuatro immediately convened an emergency meeting upon arriving from Ormoc City, Leyte, to discuss precautionary measures that the province can implement to supplement the supposed effects of the tension in Middle East.

"This morning lang, nagstorya nami sa DTI provincial level. We set up a communication team to do price monitoring," he said.

"Based on discussions, in one or two months, safe ang Cebu ug Pilipinas — but hopefully dili gyud bi mo-prolong... If magdugay ni, that will really [hamper] economic stability," he added.

At the Capitol, fuel conservation measures have already taken effect.

Executive Assistant James Canoy said provincial offices are reducing unnecessary travel and consolidating official trips to minimize fuel consumption.

In a separate interview, he said vehicle deployment and routing are being optimized across departments, and virtual meetings are encouraged whenever possible.

Despite these adjustments, Canoy emphasized that essential public services will remain uninterrupted, stressing that healthcare and other social services will continue even as the province implements austerity steps.

Executive Order (EO) No. 15 requires all provincial departments to adopt immediate fuel-saving strategies and closely monitor their fuel use.

Each office must submit a Fuel Conservation Plan to the Office of the Governor within five working days.

However, emergency and frontline services such as ambulances, disaster response units, law enforcement, and social service operations are exempted to ensure public safety and continuous delivery of critical services.

The EO also focuses on food security.

The Provincial Agriculturist has been directed to prepare a short-term food sufficiency plan that prioritizes staples including rice, corn, fishery products, and vegetables.

Local procurement from Cebu-based producers will be prioritized to support farmers and ensure steady supply, while city and municipal agriculture offices must maintain buffer stocks and promote community and urban gardening initiatives.

Farm input costs will be monitored to prevent disruptions in production, and subsidies may be considered if necessary.(MyTVCebu)