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The government is reducing until December 2026 the impost on owners and operators of tankers and barges transporting oil and petroleum products in Philippine waterways and coastwise shipping routes as a temporary economic relief amid the current surge in global crude oil prices and operational costs
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The Oil Pollution Management Fund impost was adjusted and reduced from P0.10 per liter to P0.01 per liter for every delivery or transhipment of oil received by tanker barges or tanker haulers from an oil depot, refinery, or other storage facility for carriage to its point of destination
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The reduction takes effect August 12
The government is reducing until December 2026 the impost on owners and operators of tankers and barges transporting oil and petroleum products in Philippine waterways and coastwise shipping routes as a temporary economic relief amid the current surge in global crude oil prices and other operational costs.
Under Oil Pollution Management Fund Committee (OPMFC) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2026-01, the OPMF impost was adjusted and reduced from P0.10 per liter to P0.01 per liter for every delivery or transhipment of oil received by tanker barges or tanker haulers from an oil depot, refinery, or other storage facility for carriage to its point of destination regardless of any intervening or intermediate point for consideration, de consolidation or change of means of transportation of such oil.
The reduction takes effect August 12 and will remain in effect until December 31, 2026, unless sooner revoked or extended by the proper authority.
The OPMF, created under Republic Act No. 9483 (Oil Pollution Compensation Act of 2007), is used for the immediate containment, removal and clean-up operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in all oil pollution cases, as well as for research, enforcement and monitoring activities of relevant agencies.
The fund is generated from the impost or contributions of owners and operators of tankers and barges hauling oil and for petroleum products in Philippine waterways and coast wise shipping routes.
According to OPMFC MC No. 2026-01, the temporary reduction of the impost is a complementary measures pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 110 in order to provide temporary economic relief to the maritime petroleum transport sector amidst the current surge in global crude oil prices and operational costs, while ensuring that the OPMF remains financially capable of supporting immediate containment, removal and cleanup operations of all oil pollution cases.
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EO 110 signed last March declared a state of national energy emergency due to the Middle East conflict and directed concerned government agencies to implement necessary response measures to mitigate the effects of the crisis.
A comprehensive review of the reduced contribution rate will be undertaken at least three months prior to its expiration, taking into consideration the financial position of the OPMF, prevailing oil pollution risk exposure, and relevant economic and energy sector conditions. Based on the results of such review, the OPMFC will determine whether to maintain, adjust, extend, or revert the contribution rate to its previous level.
The OPMFC includes the Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, PCG, Philippine Ports Authority, and Philippine Petroleum Sea Transport Association.— Roumina Pablo
