A significant fuel shortage has forced several gasoline stations in Albay to temporarily shut their doors as delivery trucks remain stranded on flooded highways in nearby Camarines Sur.
Severe flooding has caused the Maharlika Highway to become congested with stranded vehicles in San Fernando, Milaor, and Naga City. This disruption follows nearly a week of heavy rainfall, with parts of the Bicol Region submerged in up to 15 feet of water due to Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), which made landfall on October 22.
The Maharlika Highway serves as a crucial route for travelers heading to Albay and Sorsogon provinces from Metro Manila and other regions of Luzon. As of October 26, only heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses were able to navigate the inundated roadways.
Ivan Karl Nipa, a gasoline attendant at a major station in Barangay Busay, Daraga, explained that they closed on Sunday afternoon after exhausting their supply of diesel and gasoline, as their delivery tankers remain stuck in San Fernando, waiting for the traffic to clear.
“Our last delivery came a week before Kristine hit the Bicol Region. Since October 22, land travel between Metro Manila and Bicol has been suspended,” Nipa stated.
He added that the station had also stopped bulk fuel sales to prioritize individual customers and service vehicles.
In Daraga town proper, Daraga Fuels has run out of gasoline but continues to sell diesel, although stocks are expected to be depleted by Monday afternoon, according to employee Sheovy Martillano. “We’re hoping for more supplies, but it’s unlikely they’ll arrive on time".
Long lines of motorists have formed at the few operational fuel stations in Daraga and surrounding towns, as most stations in Legazpi City, Albay’s capital, have closed their doors.
Mobilization Challenges
Dante Baclao, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Office, indicated that while they anticipate the arrival of eight fuel tankers, they are encountering delays due to a 30- to 40-kilometer traffic backlog in Camarines Sur.
“We can still mobilize for now, but if supplies run low, our relief and clearing operations will be significantly affected,” Baclao noted in a phone interview on Monday.