Energy Secretary Vincent Perez told a briefing senior lawmakers were preparing a joint resolution in Congress to allow President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to defer the deadline of January 1 next year for new curbs on components of unleaded gasoline.

The Clean Air Act of 1999 specifies the volume of aromatics in unleaded gasoline should fall to 35 percent from 42 percent and benzene specifically to two percent from four percent.

The aromatics are additives used to raise the octane levels of fuel, but have been found to contain elements harmful to the ozone layer. Benzene plays a role in causing cancer.

"Given that this (lower benzene) is not readily available in the market, as a matter of fact there is only one refinery in Asia which produces this right now which is in Thailand, we may actually be making our energy security more vulnerable," Perez said.

"There are only a few countries in the region, Thailand particularly or (the United States) California, which currently produce this highly specific mix...We were only concerned on the impact on transportation fares."

Perez said the government has yet to decide how long it would defer the new curbs on unleaded gas components, adding the country's oil supply remained in the "normal range" of about 55 to 65 days.

"This week, it was about 62 days (supply) to be precise, which in itself is sufficient to see the country through any of the foreseeable scenarios in case of a military conflict in Iraq," Perez said.

Philippines imports all its crude oil requirements and sources its oil from 15 countries, of which only three are in the Middle East, Perez said. The rest of the sources are in the Asia-Pacific region.