Gas stations in Isabela, Vizcaya run out of fuel

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – At least 10 gasoline stations here and in neighboring Isabela have temporarily closed operations as supplies of their oil reserves failed to arrive since Monday. 

Likewise, other refilling stations in the two provinces, including Santiago City were now limiting their sale to individuals after their colleagues in the business here, mostly affiliated with Total, have run out of reserves.

“Our tankers have yet to arrive. We are expecting them since (last week) but until now they are still in Bataan waiting for their oil allotments,” said one of the caretakers of the Total gas station here.

Other refilling stations like Petron, Caltex and Shell had resorted to fuel rationing, limiting their sales to every customers to only up to seven liters for unleaded gasoline and up to three liters for diesel.  

“We are only given no more than two liters per day. The (gas stations’) attendants are registering our plate numbers to prevent us from refilling more than once in a day,” said tricycle driver Paul Santiago of neighboring Solano town.

Likewise, Francis Cabrito, also of Solano town, said that he was only allowed a maximum of seven liters of unleaded gasoline for his car when he tried to refill at Solano Shell station the other day.

“It’s supposed to be a full-tank for my car since I’m scheduled yesterday to go to Tuguegarao City (in Cagayan) for business purposes,” he said. 

Except for the Total gas station owned by the Gaddi family in Santa Fe town here and in Cordon, Isabela, all refilling establishments under Total have failed to resume their business due to unavailability of oil stocks. 

It was learned that at least eight Total gas stations in Santiago City and neighboring areas have also temporarily closed operations.

Station attendants said they have been closed since Monday or when their oil suppliers from Bataan failed to deliver their allotments last week.

However, they could not explain as to any reason behind the delay of arrival of their oil allotments.