PH spoke to ‘almost all countries’ to ensure sufficient oil supply – DOE chief

MANILA — The government has spoken to “almost all countries,” including Russia and Australia, to ensure the Philippines’ oil supply is sufficient, according to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin. 

This is part of efforts to “diversify our risk” amid the fuel crisis.

“The worst-case scenario really is not just the price. I think the most– the worst case would be no oil in the Philippines. We’re importing. We’re making sure that we have supply… We won’t be able to run our hospitals, our gensets, power plants, even our transportation. Wala tayo kung wala tayong oil. So what we’re doing now to avoid that–we know that there’s no problem with supply. But just in case, we’re trying to diversify our risk,” Garin said.

“Ngayon po, 80 percent of our oil or petroleum goes to Strait of Hormuz directly or indirectly. So ngayon po, kinakausap natin pati Russia, Canada, U.S., even South America. We started talking with, like, Colombia…. And even Australia… Just in case, something happens there, and the strait really closes and no supply is coming out, we have other friends to go to. And we’ve talked to almost all countries, even here in Southeast Asia or Asia– China, Japan,” Garin added.

The DOE chief said she believes they responded well to the crisis.

“We have been having this crisis since March or late February, and I think DOE has responded well,” Garin said.

The country still has 54 days of supply, according to Garin.