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Bureau of Customs is implementing emergency preferential handling for petroleum imports to ensure the country’s fuel supply remains uninterrupted
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An Office of the Commissioner memo recently issued mandates all ports to provide expedited processing, immediate unloading, and 24/7 monitoring for all incoming oil tankers
Amid a worsening global energy crunch, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has shifted into high gear, implementing emergency preferential handling for petroleum imports to ensure the country’s fuel supply remains uninterrupted.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno recently issued OCOM Memo No. 36-2026 on March 23, 2026, mandating all ports to provide expedited processing, immediate unloading, and 24/7 monitoring for all incoming oil tankers.
READ: BOC orders expedited release of oil shipments
The BOC’s new express lane for energy has already facilitated two massive shipments critical to the national buffer:
- The Russian Connection (Port of Limay): The BOC prioritized the discharge of the M/T Sara Sky. The Sierra Leone-flagged vessel delivered 100,402.776 barrels of ESPO Blend crude from Russia, consigned to Petron Corporation. This high-stakes shipment was funneled directly into the Petron Bataan Refinery to stabilize domestic pump prices.
- Government Strategic Reserves (Port of San Fernando): In La Union, the BOC cleared over 9.15 million liters of diesel for the Philippine National Oil Company. Arriving at the SEAOIL Bangar Terminal, this government-procured fuel is a cornerstone of the Department of Energy’s Strategic Fuel Reserve program, designed to protect Luzon from supply shocks.
Despite the rush to clear cargo, Nepomuceno in a statement clarified that “speed does not mean a lapse in security.” The BOC is utilizing a multi-layered enforcement strategy:
- Vessel Tracking System: Live maritime satellite tracking monitors tankers the moment they enter Philippine jurisdiction.
- Enhanced Fuel Marking: To prevent smuggling and tax leakage, all fuel is marked and verified at the depot level.
- Real-Time Inventory: Ports are now required to submit daily reports on depot levels to the DOE to prevent artificial hoarding.
With petroleum duties accounting for approximately ₱200 billion in annual revenue, the BOC’s proactive stance serves a dual purpose: fueling the economy and securing the national treasury, the agency said.
“Our goal is simple,” Commissioner Nepomuceno stated. “To keep the country moving by ensuring no disruption reaches our industries or our communities during this period of global volatility.”
