La trinidad: Mayor Roderick Awingan of this municipality has reiterated his call for gasoline station operators to permit farmers to purchase fuel using containers. 'We have reminded our gasoline station operators to allow farmers to fill their containers with fuel, which they will use to operate their equipment at their farms,' Awingan said in a media interview.
According to Philippines News Agency, Awingan emphasized that farmers are registered with the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) and the municipal agriculture office, and they possess identification cards to verify their legitimate fuel use. This includes operating equipment like generators for watering plants or running water pumps.
Guidelines from the Department of Energy (DOE) authorize farmers and fishers to buy petroleum products using jerry cans and drums for agricultural machinery, such as tractors and irrigation pumps, as well as for fishing vessels and marine equipment. These purchases are considered legitimate as long as they comply with anti-hoarding rules and ensure equitable fuel sales.
Awingan noted that this initiative aims to alleviate the challenges faced by farmers, particularly those who lack their own vehicles to transport fuel. On March 16, 2026, Awingan had previously issued Executive Order 41-2026, mandating all gasoline stations in the municipality to allow qualified and registered farmers to purchase gasoline and diesel fuel using containers for legitimate agricultural purposes, with adherence to safety and verification requirements.
