Escudero to bring up fuel price disparity with oil companies

SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero assured Tuesday that he will raise the concerns of fuel consumers with the officials of oil companies about the disparity of fuel prices in the province.

Escudero, in an interview with Vic Mercado's Mercado Publiko radio program, said that he is scheduled to meet with the officials of the oil companies in the country next week.

He said the concern must be addressed to the energy department because it is unfair for the consumers in Negros to shoulder such burden of higher prices of fuel products.

Last Monday, Representative Albee Benitez (third district, Negros Occidental) confirmed that the disparity of the fuel prices in the province has widened at P5 per liter.

Meanwhile, Escudero said along with Benitez, they are working double time to make sure of the passage of the Sugarcane Act this year.

The House Bill 6113 or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2012, which was authored by Benitez, aims to protect the sugar industry in the coming years when tariffs for imported products, including sugar, will be from five percent to zero.

Escudero sponsored the Sugarcane Bill at the Senate.

Escudero said he is working with Senator Francis Pangilinan who is the chair of the Committee on Agriculture for the passage of the bill in his committee. (Teresa D. Ellera)