MANILA, Philippines — Local oil industry sources said on Friday that diesel and gasoline prices could slightly increase starting Tuesday next week, due again to the influence of global developments.
They said that diesel prices could go up by around P0.30 to P0.50 per liter, and gasoline prices could move from a possible rollback of P0.10 per liter up to around an increase of P0.20 per liter.
These estimates are based on the 4-day trading of Mean of Platts, Singapore, the pricing basis of refined goods in Southeast Asia.
Sources said the factors for this week’s adjustments were mostly due to geopolitical tensions brought by Israel’s attack in Doha, Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders, and also the drone incursion of Russia into Poland airspace, US tariffs open new trade opportunities for shipping industry, and OPEC+ raising its production at a lower rate than expected.
“The regional diesel price continued to mirror the strength in the European market, which drives global diesel demand trade. This was due to expectations of supplies tightening amid upcoming refinery turnarounds. Next, gasoline prices slightly went down as demand is seen easing with summer driving season coming to a close. However, planned maintenance at major refineries is expected to tighten supply,” Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said.
“But while the average price of crude oil this week is still slightly lower compared to last week, prices have been on an uptrend due to concerns that the potential new sanctions on Russia and expansion of secondary tariffs to its major buyers could disrupt Russian crude exports and tighten global supply. Moreover there are also mounting geopolitical tensions after Israel attacked the Hamas leadership in Qatar, and Poland shooting down Russian drones over its airspace has caused oil prices to rise but the increases were tempered as there was no immediate threat of oil supply disruption,” he added.
“Based on 4-day trading in MOPS and estimated relevant expenses, we are expecting a mixed movement in the prices of petroleum products. The adjustments can be mostly attributed to geopolitical tension brought by Israel attack in Doha, Qatar targeting Hamas leaders and the drone incursion of Russia into Poland airspace; US tariffs open new trade opportunities for shipping industry; and OPEC+ raising its production at a lower rate than expected,” Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rodela Romero said.
This week, local oil companies implemented increases in gasoline, and diesel by P0.70 per liter, and P1.00 per liter respectively.
Mixed water rate adjustments
Rates charged by Maynilad Water Services, Inc. will increase beginning October, while those of Manila Water Co. Inc. will go down, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said on Friday.
The regulator approved a fourth-quarter foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA) increase of P0.14 per cubic meter for West Zone concessionaire Maynilad and a P0.15/cubic meter reduction for Manila Water, which services the East Zone of the greater Manila area.
This means that Maynilad residential customers consuming 10 cubic meters of water or less per month will see their bills go up by P0.40 while those using 20 cubic meters, and 30 cubic meters will have to pay an additional P1.53 and P3.13, respectively.
For Manila Water, residential customers consuming 10 cubic meters of water or less should see a P0.64-reduction in their monthly water bills for the last three months of 2025. The cuts will be P1.43 for those using 20 cubic meters, and P2.91 for 30 cubic meters.
Low-income customers of both concessioners who are under the enhanced lifeline program will see no adjustment.
The FCDA, which is reviewed every quarter, allows the two concessionaires to recover losses or return the gains from exchange rate fluctuations affecting foreign currency-denominated loans used to fund service improvements.
Maynilad provides water and wastewater services to 17 cities and municipalities including most of Manila; parts of Quezon City, Makati and Parañaque; Caloocan, Pasay, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon — all in Metro Manila — and the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite.
Manila Water, meanwhile, services 24 cities and municipalities including Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Marikina, most of Quezon City, parts of Manila and Parañaque and the towns of Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Cardona, Jalajala, Morong, Pililia, Rodriguez, Tanay, Taytay, Teresa, San Mateo and Antipolo in Rizal province.
