Fuel costs continued their steady climb this week, extending a pattern that is beginning to reshape household budgets and business planning across the country.
Motorists will see higher pump prices starting Tuesday after several major oil companies announced another round of increases, marking the seventh consecutive weekly hike for gasoline and the ninth straight week of adjustments for diesel and kerosene. Gasoline prices will rise by ₱0.60 per liter, while diesel and kerosene will go up by ₱1.20 per liter.
In separate advisories, Seaoil Philippines Corp. and Shell Pilipinas Corp. confirmed the increases, with Cleanfuel and Petro Gazz implementing the same adjustments, except for kerosene which they do not sell. Most firms will apply the new prices at 6 a.m. on February 24, while Cleanfuel’s adjustment will take effect later in the afternoon.
The sustained upward movement is drawing closer scrutiny from transport operators, logistics firms, and small businesses, many of which rely heavily on diesel and are now facing higher operating costs for a second straight month.
Analysts note that while each weekly increase appears modest, the cumulative effect is becoming more pronounced, particularly for sectors already dealing with elevated food prices and borrowing costs.
According to the Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau, global market conditions continue to drive domestic pump prices. The agency has pointed to a mix of geopolitical tensions, shifting supply expectations, fluctuating inventories, and market sentiment as key factors influencing international oil benchmarks, which are then reflected locally.
Last week alone, oil companies raised gasoline prices by ₱1.20 per liter, while diesel and kerosene increased by ₱0.60 per liter each. Since the start of the year, cumulative adjustments have resulted in net increases of ₱2.40 per liter for gasoline, ₱5.40 for diesel, and ₱3.80 for kerosene as of early February.
With other oil firms yet to announce their own adjustments for the week, consumers are bracing for the possibility that the streak of increases may not end soon. For now, the persistent rise in fuel prices is reinforcing concerns over transport fares, delivery costs, and inflationary pressures, keeping energy costs firmly at the center of the country’s economic conversation.