MANILA — Malacañang assured the public that the Philippines maintains sufficient supplies of fuel and essential goods despite rising oil prices caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

“Sa ngayon, tulad ng aking sinabi kahapon sa DTI, wala naman daw movement ng price sa mga basic commodities natin sa NCR (National Capital Region) at sa ibang mga region,” said Claire Castro, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer, during a media briefing in New York.

The Palace urged the public to report any unusual price increases in essential goods or petroleum products to regulatory agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Energy (DOE).

On Tuesday morning, oil companies implemented a three-day staggered price increase in fuel products.

Castro emphasized that while the government acknowledges the ongoing Middle East tensions, there is no need for panic buying.

“Hindi man ito nagaganap at hindi ito ang kagustuhan ng ating gobyerno pero dahil sa tension na nagpapatuloy sa Middle East, kailangan talagang paghandaan ng mga kababayan natin. Pero hindi kailangan magkaroon ng panic buying dahil kumpleto naman at enough pa ang supply, lalong-lalo na ang ating fuel at ng ating mga basic commodities,” she said.