A total of 425 gas stations across the country have temporarily ceased operations as the Philippines grapples with a declared state of energy emergency, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Friday.

According to data released by the PNP, the primary driver behind the closures is a critical shortage of petroleum product supplies. The impact is being felt nationwide, though some regions are significantly more strained than others.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has been hit the hardest, recording 79 closures. Following closely are Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas, both seeing over 40 stations shut down.

In contrast, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Visayas remain the least affected, reporting four closures and one closure, respectively.

Data from PNP

The PNP noted that while the closures are currently labeled as temporary, the duration depends heavily on the stabilization of the fuel supply chain. Local authorities are monitoring the situation to prevent potential hoarding or illegal price hikes during the emergency period.