The government marked nearly 10.7 billion liters in fuel since September last year as it aims to put an end to oil smuggling in the country.
From September until end-July this year, the government already injected fuel markers on a total of 10.66 billion liters, according to documents issued on Monday from the Department of Finance (DOF).
The bulk or 61.96 percent (6.610 billion liters) of these was diesel, followed by gasoline at 37.55 percent (4.007 billion liters) and kerosene at 0.49 percent (52.552 million liters).
Meanwhile, 75 percent or 8.015 billion liters of the 10.66 billion liters of marked fuel was in Luzon, 20 percent (2.137 billion liters) was in Mindanao and five percent (517.719 million liters) was in Visayas.
Leading the list of 20 participating petroleum companies is Petron Corp. capturing 23.59 percent or 2.517 billion liters.
Trailing Petron was Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. with 20.16 percent (2.151 billion liters) followed by Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. with 10.71 percent (1.143 billion liters). Chevron Philippines Inc. followed with 8.63 percent (920.497 million liters) and then by Seaoil Philippines Inc. with 8.51 percent (908.444 million liters).
The government earlier said it aims to collect at least P20 billion this year, which is half the estimated P40 billion in revenue lost to oil smuggling in the country.
Fuel marking makes use of a unique chemical marker capable of being embedded at a molecular level in petroleum products—gasoline, diesel and kerosene—thereby enabling authorities to test, identify and distinguish petroleum products with paid excise taxes.
Under Republic Act 10963, petroleum products that are refined, manufactured or imported to the Philippines such as, but not limited to, unleaded premium gasoline, kerosene, and diesel shall be marked by an official marking agent after payment of taxes and duties.
Spearheaded by the DOF, the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the fuel-marking program was launched with the intention of putting a halt to illegal importation, manufacturing and other fraudulent activities relating to the use and sale of petroleum products in the country. Bernadette D. Nicolas