No announcements from the government or schools exist regarding class suspensions from March 9 to 13 due to a potential oil price hike from Middle East tensions. This claim spread on social media but has been debunked as false news. Meanwhile, the Senate filed a bill for a national petroleum reserve to counter fuel supply crisis effects.
A post from the Facebook page 'Pamilya News Channel,' with over 170,000 followers, recently spread a claim of class suspensions from March 9 to 13 as preparation for a possible oil price increase due to foreign tensions. The video stated the goal was to save energy and fuel, including links purportedly from the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) listing affected areas. However, no official statements exist from DepEd or DILG, and the links lead to e-commerce sites and a blog, not government websites.
The false news stems from ongoing Middle East tensions involving Iran, Israel, and US forces. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit point impacting global energy markets. In the Philippines, Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin explained that while finished products like gasoline and diesel come from Asian countries, the strait closure could create a 'domino effect' in the region.
To address this, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public of a 60-day fuel inventory. Palace press officer Claire Castro said during a March 4 press briefing that the president may consider a four-day workweek to conserve energy. He also urged the public, including officials, to avoid unnecessary travel and save energy ahead of potential fuel price surges in coming weeks.
Additionally, Senate President Tito Sotto filed Senate Bill 1934, the Philippine Strategic Petroleum Reserve Act. It proposes a reserve with at least 90 days of crude oil and refined products like diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas. Managed by the Department of Energy (DOE) across the country, it would be overseen by a Strategic Energy Security Council from various agencies. Funding would come from the DOE budget to shield the nation from supply shocks due to geopolitical conflicts and other risks.
