MANILA – Recovery and aid efforts have been severely hampered in the Philippines because many gasoline stations in the damaged areas lack access to fuel, InterAksyon.com reports. Adding to the scarcity of gasoline is the increased looting of gasoline stations.

Despite ample fuel available in depots located in nearby Eastern and Central Visayas, Fernando L. Martinez, Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA) chairman, said that the difficulty is in transporting the fuel from the terminals to Tacloban City and other places devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan.

Relief has been slowly making its way to the city, but locals said without enough fuel, basic goods couldn’t be trucked in to needy residents. “Retail outlets have been severely damaged, making distribution a very difficult task unless [through] improvised ways, which (does not conform with) retail safety standards,” said Martinez.

He estimated that pump repairs would take weeks because replacement parts would have to be ordered from outside the country. “Besides, without electricity, doing business is too difficult,” said Martinez. The National Grid Corp of the Philippines (NGCP) predicted electricity would not be fully restored for about six weeks.

Philippines Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla pointed to the very real possibility of looting has some oil companies reluctant to re-open stations. “Problem is the delivery security plus some dealers don't want to open until they have assurance of peace and order, and until such time that nearby banks open considering everything is cash transaction,” he said.

You can help with relief efforts by giving to the Fuel Relief Fund.