Davao: The provincial government of Davao del Norte plans to buy 44 million liters of crude oil and gasoline from Malaysia to help mitigate rising oil prices in the province caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Gov. Edwin Jubahib said in an interview on Wednesday that while the purchase cost has yet to be finalized, he is optimistic that the Malaysian government will provide the supply.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jubahib connected with the Johol District in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, and shared the province's problem. The Malaysian authorities responded positively, indicating that they could supply crude oil and gasoline due to their large reserves. The oil will be sourced from Malaysia's national petroleum company.

The governor mentioned that the liaison of the ruler of Johol is currently in the provincial capitol, and discussions on the cost and delivery are ongoing. The 44 million liters will be a one-time shipment, and the province assures its capacity to pay for the bulk order to stabilize the local supply.

Negotiations between the provincial government and Malaysia are ongoing, with adherence to Malaysia's procurement process. The provincial government is also identifying a depot to store the supply once the deal is finalized. Jubahib intends to inform the Department of Energy about this local initiative, emphasizing its importance for sustaining services for Dabaonons.

To conserve fuel, the provincial government has implemented a carpooling system. Additionally, the province made an emergency purchase of two large tankers, each with a 24,000-liter capacity, to ensure reserves for emergencies, especially for rescue vehicles.