Oil companies Petron and Cleanfuel have temporarily suspended price hikes in areas affected by severe weather conditions, offering relief to communities grappling with the impact of heavy rains and flooding.
According to a report by Super Radyo dzBB’s Mao Dela Cruz, Petron halted the increase in automotive diesel prices in selected areas, including La Union, Ilocos Sur, Pampanga and parts of Pangasinan such as Basista, San Carlos, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mangatarem, Mangaldan, and Umingan.
Cleanfuel, on the other hand, implemented a broader price freeze across all its stations in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon. These include Caloocan, Quezon City, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Maysilo (Malabon), Alabang-Zapote (Las Piñas), Marikina, Meycauayan (Bulacan), Tanauan (Batangas), Dinalupihan (Bataan) and Dagupan (Pangasinan).
The freeze, which took effect on Monday, aims to ease the burden on residents amid worsening weather conditions. The country continues to feel the effects of the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and multiple tropical cyclones—Crising, Dante and Emong.
As of the latest reports, the combined impact of these weather disturbances has claimed at least 34 lives and disrupted normal operations in several regions. Classes in some areas remained suspended on Tuesday due to the ongoing threat of heavy rainfall and flooding.
The Department of Energy has yet to issue a national directive on oil price freezes. Still, local actions by fuel companies have been welcomed as timely interventions for affected motorists and businesses.