President, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., has finally exercised his emergency powers under Republic Act 12316, which took effect on April 9, 2026.

But don’t celebrate just yet, as the relief many motorists were hoping for remains out of reach. Instead of also suspending excise taxes on diesel and gasoline, the President ordered the suspension only on LPG and kerosene.

“Sa ilalim ng kapangyarihan na ibinigay sa atin ng batas, tinanggal ko na ang excise tax sa LPG at sa kerosene. Ang katumbas nito ay PHP 3.36 ang bawas ng kada kilo ng LPG, halos P37 sa isang tangke ang mababawas na presyo... At PHP 5.60 kada litro ng kerosene,”

(Under the authority granted to me by law, I have removed the excise tax on LPG and kerosene. This is equivalent to a reduction of PHP 3.36 per kilogram of LPG, around PHP 37 less per tank, and PHP 5.60 per liter on kerosene.)

Should the President suspend the excise taxes on diesel and gasoline, prices could have dropped by PHP 6/L and PHP 10/L, respectively, on these fuels. This would have also delivered a much-needed relief not just to motorists, but to the entire transport and logistics chain, including those moving food and other basic goods.