Airline carriers in the Philippines, such as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (PAL), have canceled some flights amid rising fuel prices due to tensions in the Middle East. This comes as President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. says there is a “distinct possibility” that flights from the Philippines may be grounded due to fuel “scarcity.” On the evening of Tuesday, March 24, he also declared a national state of energy emergency.
Marcos signed an executive order on the energy emergency “to implement responsive and coordinated measures under existing laws to address the risks posed by disruptions in the global energy supply and the domestic economy.” The order will be in effect for one year.
The president’s declaration comes only a day after the Palace said there was “no energy crisis” and asserted that the Philippines has enough fuel supply.
On Wednesday, March 25, PAL said it has enough jet fuel supply to support all scheduled flights, including long-haul flights, “for the foreseeable future.”
“The airline recognizes that global supply conditions remain dynamic,” PAL said in its statement. “As part of prudent planning, PAL continues to work closely with fuel suppliers, industry partners, and government stakeholders to ensure stable and efficient operations over the longer term.”
Because of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, PAL has also announced a temporary suspension of flights to and from cities in the Middle East, such as Riyadh, Dubai, and Doha.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific issued an advisory on Monday, March 23, stating that it will reduce and suspend some of its routes from April to October, citing rising fuel costs. “These changes are driven by the impact of the crisis on global fuel prices, which have more than doubled compared with 2025 averages,” Cebu Pacific said.
On Wednesday, Marcos said that he has ordered the Department of Energy (DOE) to secure additional fuel sources, as the DOE says the country only has a supply for 45 days.
“Although we cannot be assured right now of the supply, we can be sure that at least for 45 days, we will be all right,” Marcos said during his address in Malacañang. “We can be confident that after the 45 days […] we will already have a flow of oil — not just one delivery, not just two deliveries, but a flow of petroleum and petroleum-related products.”
