By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council is pressing for tighter coordination with national government agencies and demanded greater transparency on fuel supply and pricing amid spiraling cost of fuel.
Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., chairperson of the Committee on Socialized Housing Projects and Oversight, said the city has coordinated with national agencies through the Price Control Council, which met Monday with government representatives.
He added that the City Council convened the session on Tuesday to directly question national government agencies on data, plans, and supply conditions. However, the concerned agencies were unable to provide clear answers.
“I don’t think they are prepared to give us answers,” Mahipus said during the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos media forum. “We asked for data and information, but none were given. We asked about plans, but there were none presented.”
The councilor said they wanted to extend a hand to national government agencies to plan and identify the best solution; however, the lack of data makes it difficult for the city council to craft responsive measures.
Mahipus said the council plans to invite major fuel suppliers operating in Davao City to the session next week to determine local fuel capacity, assess how long current supplies will last, and identify ways to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, also emphasized the need for transparency at the national level, particularly on available financial resources and fuel supply strategies.
Dayanghirang said the national government should disclose key financial data, including proceeds from asset sales and the status of major investment programs, to ensure funds are available for subsidies and other interventions.
He urged national government authorities to explore additional fuel sources, including within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, and to consider short-term relief measures, such as suspending certain fuel taxes, to ease prices.
Dayanghirang, however, acknowledged that reducing taxes could affect government revenues needed for salaries and public services, highlighting the need to balance fiscal sustainability with public assistance.
At the local level, the councilor said the city government may review and adjust its 2026 budget if necessary, prioritizing social services such as food, medicine, and essential government operations, while deferring non-urgent projects.
The council also raised the possibility of increasing fuel allocations for emergency response units, including the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, noting that the city could support such adjustments through a calamity fund.
Dayanghirang said declaring a state of calamity in Davao City could allow for stricter price controls, prevent hoarding, and expedite access to emergency funds. He added that the final decision is up to Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
“The prices are going up. The supply of fuel should be transparent,” the councilors said, emphasizing that transparency in fuel supply remains critical, including data on national and local stock levels and distribution flows.
As the main fuel hub in Region 11, Dayanghirang said Davao City and a part of Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur plays a central role in supply for surrounding areas, making it particularly vulnerable to price and supply fluctuations.
The city officials said they are awaiting further direction from the mayor while continuing to assess policy options and coordinate with national agencies to address the impact of rising fuel and commodity prices.
Meanwhile, Harvey Lanticse, head of the City Information Office, earlier denied reports of any oil shipment from Brunei. He said the local government has not engaged in any talks with Brunei regarding oil supplies.
This clarification comes after videos circulated online claiming that an oil tanker from Brunei had arrived, with one clip showing a tanker leaving a vessel and captioned “Salamat, Brunei,” which was widely shared.
Brunei, a leading producer of petroleum and natural gas, generates about half of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from its offshore energy industry and exports its output primarily to Asian countries.
In response to rising fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict, the city is closely monitoring local fuel rates. The Business Bureau has been directed to inspect gasoline stations, while the City Economic Enterprise is conducting price checks on goods to prevent hoarding and overpricing.
