DOE: No fuel supply shortage despite closure of 35 Shell stations

Despite the closure of some 35 gas stations of Pilipinas Shell Friday, energy officials reassured the public Saturday there is no shortage of fuel in Metro Manila. Energy Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada gave the reassurance even as she said the Energy Department continues to monitor the situation. "Sabi ni Secretary, walang difficulty sa supply as far as motorists kundi inconvenience lang (Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said there is no supply difficulty as far as motorists are concerned. It is just an inconvenience)," Monsada, who heads the Oil Industry Management Bureau, said in an interview on dzRH radio.
Monsada said the difficulty in transporting fuel affects only Shell and Chevron, which used the First Philippine Industrial Corp. pipeline before it was closed. The pipeline has been closed after geologist teams confirmed leaks in it. According to Monsada, Shell and Chevron have been using barges and delivery trucks to transport fuel after the closure of the pipeline, which had been conveying oil from their refineries in Batangas to their depots in Manila’s Pandacan district. "Nag-concentrate sila sa diesel at ordinaryong gasolina (They concentrated on diesel and ordinary gasoline)," she said. In the meantime, Monsada said they are monitoring the situation, particularly the fuel supply of other oil companies. "Tinitingnan namin yan (We are checking on that)," she said. — LBG/JV, GMANews.TV