MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene as part of government efforts to ease the burden of soaring fuel prices on Filipino households.
The President announced the move following the enactment of Republic Act No. 12316, which grants him emergency powers to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products during periods of high global oil prices.
Under the directive, the removal of the excise tax is expected to reduce LPG prices by about ₱3.36 per kilogram, translating to nearly ₱37 in savings for an 11-kilogram tank. Meanwhile, kerosene prices are projected to drop by around ₱5.60 per liter.
Marcos said the measure is intended to provide immediate relief to Filipino families, particularly those who rely on LPG and kerosene for cooking and daily household needs. He noted that while the price rollback is significant, it may still not be enough to fully offset the impact of rising global oil prices.
The tax suspension comes amid an ongoing surge in fuel prices driven by global supply disruptions, particularly tensions in the Middle East, which have heavily affected oil-importing countries like the Philippines.
Officials have yet to specify how long the suspension will remain in effect, but under the law, such measures may be implemented for up to three months and are subject to prevailing global oil price conditions.
The government is also expected to assess whether similar tax adjustments will be applied to gasoline and diesel, as authorities continue to explore ways to cushion the economic impact of the fuel price spike on consumers and businesses.
