Motorists queue at a gas station in Quezon City on March 8, 2026, ahead of an expected oil price hike. Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- Some gas stations in Quezon City began running out of fuel products on Sunday as motorists rushed to fill up ahead of an expected big-time oil price hike on Tuesday.
Long queues of vehicles were seen at several gasoline stations across the city, with lines stretching to the side of Commonwealth Avenue as drivers waited patiently to buy cheaper fuel.
READ: Diesel prices seen to rise by up to P23/L, gas by up to P13/L next week
In one gas station, diesel was priced at P57 per liter, while gasoline was around P55 per liter. This was significantly cheaper than other stations where prices were already nearing P70 per liter.
Among those waiting in line was jeepney driver Francisco Bravo, who said the lower prices could help ease the burden on his daily earnings.
"Kanina ang haba ng pila dito, so nung nakita kong kumonti pumila na ako. Kasi baka kasi mamaya tumaas na naman, sayang din. P57.90 dito, eh sa... nasa P69, eh malaking bawas sa kita yun. Kaya nagtiya-tiyaga kami. Sana naman matigil na yung gulo sa Iran. Para hindi naman kaming mga tsuper ang nasasagasaan sa pagtaas ng krudo," Bravo said.
Some families were also willing to wait just to take advantage of lower prices and fill their tanks.
Motorist Elpidio Remedio said government intervention could help address rising fuel costs. "Walang pera eh. Siguro tanggalin yung excise tax sa petrolyo para happy lahat," he said.
READ: 'Napapanahon na ito': Palace wants lower fuel excise tax
At another gas station near Philcoa, long lines were also reported as motorists tried to buy fuel before the anticipated price adjustment.
Gas station staff said the surge in customers has been a recurring scene over the past few days.
In some stations, diesel stocks were already depleted, leaving gasoline as the only available fuel product.
One gasoline station even temporarily changed its price signage after running out of all petroleum products around 1:30 p.m., according to staff. A new fuel supply was expected to arrive at around 3 p.m., but workers said the products were being sold out quickly throughout the day.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has yet to issue a response to the situation, but Energy Secretary Sharon Garin earlier reminded oil companies that overpricing and hoarding of petroleum products is prohibited.
The DOE also released an advisory showing the expected price ranges for fuel from March 6 to March 9:
• Gasoline (RON 97/100): ₱53.70 – ₱76.50 per liter
• Gasoline (RON 95): ₱50.00 – ₱71.04 per liter
• Gasoline (RON 91): ₱49.00 – ₱64.70 per liter
• Diesel: ₱49.00 – ₱66.59 per liter
• Diesel Plus: ₱56.80 – ₱74.81 per liter
• Kerosene: ₱78.90 – ₱99.89 per liter
DOE personnel have also begun conducting inspections in various parts of the country to ensure gas stations are complying with mandated price adjustments.
Officials reminded retailers that price increases are not allowed yet and should only take effect on Tuesday.
-- Bus operators seek fare increase --
Meanwhile, a group of city bus operators in Mega Manila is calling for a ₱2 provisional fare increase amid the looming spike in fuel prices.
Juliet De Jesus, City Bus Operation Internal Affairs Officer of the Mega Manila Consortium Corporation (MMCC), said the group is awaiting a response from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
READ: Motorists brace for massive fuel price hike
"Yung provisional authority. Actually, we are asking for P2 before nung nag-file kami. Maaring 'yun lang ang ibigay sa amin… Whereas, if it is only the provisional P2 ‘pag nagdagdag ng dalawang piso, so 'yung P15 namin will become P17, and the P13 will become P15," De Jesus said.
She said if diesel prices continue to rise sharply, operators may also reduce bus dispatches.
"Siguro kung talagang medyo mahihirapan kami because 23 pesos this coming week. Eh baka, baka ano po, magbawas kami ng dispatch. Ah, hindi lahat pati dispatch to avoid 'yung impact ng malaking presyo ng diesel," she added.
Ride-hailing company JoyRide also said it is monitoring developments in global oil prices and assessing possible measures to cushion the impact on drivers and passengers.
In a statement, the company said: "JoyRide is monitoring the current situation in the Middle East, and studying the expected spike in crude oil prices as it impacts our riders and customers. We will discuss every option feasible and available to lessen the economic and financial effects on our JoyRide partners."
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) told ABS-CBN News it will carefully study the request for a ₱2 provisional base fare increase, noting that authorities must balance the needs of transport operators with the potential impact on inflation and commodity prices.
The agency also plans to request a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) from the Department of Budget and Management to fund the service contracting program, a subsidy for qualified drivers and operators, in addition to a proposed fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle drivers.
The DOE urged the public to report incidents of fuel overpricing or suspected hoarding through its hotline 8840-2267, or its official social media pages.
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