Malacañang came under fire after Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro declared that the country has yet to experience an oil crisis, insisting that fuel supply remains available despite the steep rise in petroleum prices.

Castro cited ongoing negotiations for the importation of 440,000 barrels of fuel, with an additional 600,000 barrels expected to follow.

"Sa katunayan, sinabi po ni Secretary Garin na mayroon na pong negosasyon patungkol sa 440,000 barrels ng fuel; at sa susunod naman po ay mayroong 600,000 barrels na maaari po nating maangkat. Ang sinasabi po natin na wala pa po at hindi pa po dinideklara na mayroon tayong oil crisis dahil nga po sapat ang suplay sa ngayon. Most probably, according to Secretary Sharon, ang nagkakaroon lamang po ng issue ay tungkol sa presyo dahil alam naman po natin kung ano ang nangyayari na krisis sa Middle East," Castro said.

["In fact, Secretary Garin said that there are already negotiations for 440,000 barrels of fuel, and next, there are 600,000 barrels that we can import. What we are saying is that we have not yet declared an oil crisis because supply is sufficient for now. Most probably, according to Secretary Sharon, the issue is only about prices, because we know what is happening with the crisis in the Middle East."]

The statement drew an immediate rebuke from Kamanggawa Partylist Rep. Eli San Fernando, who challenged Castro to step outside her office and witness the reality facing ordinary Filipinos. San Fernando said Malacañang appears to be the only one unaware that an oil crisis is already underway.

The lawmaker called on the Marcos administration to shift into emergency mode rather than relying on cash aid as a solution.

"Dapat po ang attitude ninyo ay crisis mode na at emergency mode. Ang maganda ninyong gawin, isuspinde ninyo yung excise tax, yung value added tax sa mga produktong petrolyo, i-address ninyo yung issue ng sahod ng mga manggagawa," San Fernando said.

["The attitude should already be in crisis mode and emergency mode. What you should do is suspend the excise tax and the value-added tax on petroleum products, and address the issue of workers' wages."]

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco also expressed disbelief over the Palace's remarks.

"Hindi ko matanggap 'yon. Wala pa tayo sa krisis. Eh ang taas na nga ng presyo ng langis, di ba? Pag nagpapakarga ka nga ng diesel, pataas ng pataas eh, so paano namang wala tayo sa krisis?" Tiangco said.

["I cannot accept that. We are not yet in a crisis? Fuel prices are already so high. Every time you fill up with diesel, the price keeps going up — so how are we not in a crisis?"]

Makabayan lawmakers similarly condemned what they described as the administration's apparent dismissal of the situation, criticizing the lack of urgent action from Malacañang. 

They warned that downplaying the crisis breeds complacency, slows down response, and conditions the public to treat worsening hardship as normal, a situation they said is anything but, as the burden on workers, drivers, farmers, the youth, and the poor continues to grow daily.

The bloc stressed that what the public needs to hear from the government are concrete and specific steps on how to move forward, adding that the administration currently lacks clear direction and appears to be going in circles.