MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE)’s directive requiring fuel price adjustments, emphasizing that such measures should remain fair and justified.

Lacson said government intervention, made possible through the declaration of a state of national energy emergency, is preferable to allowing oil companies to independently set fuel prices.

“Dapat lang gamitin ng pamahalaan ang pagdeklara ng state of national energy emergency. As long as reasonable ang gagawing computation ng DOE sa pag adjust ng presyo – pagbaba man or pagtaas ng presyo ng pump prices, mas makakabuti sa mas nakakaraming Pilipino ang ganitong patakaran o polisiya kesa naman ipaubaya sa oil companies ang pagtatalaga ng presyo (The government must use the powers granted to it under a state of national energy emergency. As long as the DOE’s computations are reasonable – whether the adjustments are upward or downward – this is better than just allowing oil firms to dictate prices of fuel),” he said.

For the current week, the DOE ordered a minimum price rollback of P24.94 per liter for diesel, P3.41 for gasoline, and P2.00 for kerosene. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said oil companies may implement larger reductions, but warned that any adjustment falling below the mandated levels could result in legal consequences.

Meanwhile, Rino Abad of the DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau said firms that fail to comply may face charges under Section 24 of Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, which carries penalties ranging from three months to one year of imprisonment and fines between P50,000 and P300,000.

The DOE also cautioned that it may review or cancel the operating permits of companies that do not follow the prescribed pricing limits.

Lacson further noted that Republic Act 8479 grants the DOE authority to temporarily assume control or direct operations of entities in the oil sector during emergencies.

“Kung tutuusin, binibigyan pa nga ng karapatan ang estado sa ilalim ng RA 8479 or Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act (Under RA 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act), to quote – ‘when public interest so requires, the DOE may, during the period of the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any person or entity engaged in the industry,’” he said.