Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not yet reached a decision on whether to suspend the excise tax on fuel, according to Inquirer.net. The statement was reported on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The Palace comment comes as fuel prices continue to rise in the Philippines. A substantial fuel price increase took effect on Tuesday, the Philippine News Agency reported. The Department of Energy expects oil prices to remain unstable, according to BusinessMirror.
The Daily Tribune reported that the recent jump in oil prices has opened the door to possible excise tax relief. Philstar.com is also running a price tracker covering oil and fuel for September 15 to 21, 2026.
A suspension of the fuel excise tax would lower the cost of petroleum products by removing a layer of taxation. Whether the government will take that step remains unresolved, with the Palace saying only that the President has yet to decide.
What to watch next: any formal announcement from Malacañang on the excise tax, and the coming weekly fuel price adjustments.