Issue on oil price disparity not over – solon

May 26, 2018 Metro BLISTT

Baguio City Rep. Mark Go stressed that the scrutiny over the disparity of oil prices in Baguio and La Union is not yet over after a major upsurge in oil prices hits the city for as high as P67 per liter of gasoline.
The lawmaker noted the disparity of P5 to P10 on oil prices still exists between Baguio City and La Union and a recent petition of 65% increase in jeepney fare was also filed due to the said increase.
It can be recalled that the solon filed House Resolution No. 853 on March 7, 2017 directing the House Committee on Energy to conduct an investigation on the disparity and overpricing of fuel prices in Northern Luzon particularly in Baguio City.
“Several committee investigations have been conducted on this issue for the major oil companies to clarify and address the issue on this oil prices disparity. We have pleaded so many times to them to reduce their fuel prices since the start of the investigation on October last year,” Go said.
While there has been an insignificant reduction in fuel prices by December 2017 in Baguio City as claimed by the said oil companies during the 4th committee hearing in February 2018, here comes again a major oil price increase.
Oil companies are bent on maintaining their rhetoric and stubborn justification behind the high price of fuel in Baguio which prompted Go to file a bill.
“While we are waiting for another round of investigation, hoping that it would be the last, I have filed House Bill No. 7352 last March 7, 2018 seeking to amend RA 8479 or the Oil Deregulation Act, empowering the Department of Energy to monitor the pump prices of fuel and to set a price ceiling and maximum rate of increases, which marks a year after I filed House Resolution 853,” the solon said.
In the light of the proposed 65% increase in jeepney fare, Go assured that he will ask the DOTr/LTFRB about the matter. “Definitely, talks with the DOTr/LTFRB will be pushed to further study and review the proposed fare hike as it would have a great impact to our people in Baguio City that would eventually affect their families’ income and expenditures,” Go ended. PR / ABN