THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has broadened its fuel marking operations across 10 Revenue Regions, inspecting and testing 189 fuel stations nationwide as of October 13, 2026.
The intensified crackdown aims to curb the illicit fuel trade and safeguard the country’s revenue streams.
Initial field results showed that 111 stations successfully passed the verification process, while 78 establishments—representing 41.3% of the total tested—recorded field failures.
Consequently, authorities sealed the affected pumps and secured over 900,250 liters of fuel inventory linked to the failed tests.
The nationwide operations spanned several key areas, covering Revenue Regions (RR) in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, including CAMANAVA and Bulacan (RR 5), the City of Manila and Palawan (RR 6), Quezon City (RR 7A), East NCR (RR 7B), Makati City (RR 8A), and South NCR (RR 8B). Inspections likewise reached the Visayas regions, covering Western Visayas (RR 11), Negros Island (RR 12), Central Visayas (RR 13), and Eastern Visayas (RR 14).
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza announced that the bureau will trace the upstream fuel sources connected to the failing stations.
Further verifications, including depot-level testing, will be conducted, though Mendoza clarified that a failed station test does not automatically prove supplier non-compliance.
“We will pursue these findings thoroughly, but we must also be fair in our enforcement. Any finding of non-compliance must be supported by proper verification,” Commissioner Mendoza stated.
This enforcement drive is a core component of the BIR DARES reform agenda under Revenue Collection and Base Protection, which seeks to eliminate illicit trade practices that undermine national revenues and put law-abiding businesses at a disadvantage.