Santa Barbara, Iloilo — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region VI led by RD Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero, CESO III convened an Inter-Agency Consultation on Fuel Price Monitoring and Anti-Hoarding Measures on March 9, 2026 via Zoom to strengthen government coordination in addressing the possible impacts of anticipated fuel price increases in Western Visayas.

The consultation gathered key regional officials and representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas Field Office, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VI, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region VI, Philippine National Police (PNP) Region VI, and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to discuss coordinated monitoring and response strategies amid rising global energy concerns.

The meeting was convened following reports of possible fuel price increases linked to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have heightened global concerns over energy security and threatened major oil shipping chokepoints. Regional authorities also raised concerns about potential fuel hoarding, unjustified price increases, panic buying, and misinformation among consumers, which may affect the transport sector and commodity prices.

During the consultation, participating agencies provided updates on fuel supply inventory, monitoring mechanisms, inspection activities, and consumer complaint channels, while also discussing ways to strengthen information sharing among agencies, local government units (LGUs), and the public.

Among the key agreements reached during the meeting were the activation of a regional coordination mechanism for fuel monitoring, designation of agency focal persons for reporting and coordination, and the establishment of a rapid reporting system on fuel supply and price movements across LGUs.

To further strengthen inter-agency collaboration, the group also discussed the creation of a Regional Task Force for Fuel Monitoring and Reporting, with DILG taking the lead in coordinating joint monitoring and reporting mechanisms among concerned agencies and LGUs.

DILG Region VI emphasized that a whole-of-government approach is necessary to ensure transparency, consumer protection, and public confidence in the management of fuel supply and pricing in the region.

The inter-agency consultation reflects the continued commitment of national government agencies to work together with LGUs in safeguarding the welfare of the public and ensuring that monitoring systems remain responsive during periods of economic and market uncertainty.