Motorists should brace for another round of fuel price increases next week. This is the second straight week of upward adjustments following substantial rollbacks during Holy Week.

“Based on the monitoring in the international oil market, we will expect an increase in the prices of petroleum products by next week,” Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rodela Romero confirmed on Friday.

Romero said gasoline prices may increase by around P0.80 to P1.40 per liter, diesel by P0.40 to P1.00 per liter, and kerosene by P0.50 to P0.70 per liter.

She pointed to fresh US sanctions on Iran’s oil shipping network, which have tightened global crude supply, and a sharper-than-expected decline in US crude inventories as the main drivers of the projected increase.

Jetti Petroleum Inc. president Leo Bellas confirmed the expected hike by citing international benchmarks that continue to reflect upward pressure on oil prices.

“Price movement indication for the week of 28 April based on this week’s MOPS and Forex average (first 4 days) versus last week’s full week average: Diesel +0.70 to +0.90, Gasoline +1.10 to +1.30,” Bellas said.

He explained that concerns over supply constraints have fueled the recent rally.