Aquino urged to give more focus on rising fuel prices

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A ZAMBALES lawmaker said President Benigno Aquino should mobilize the Department of Energy (DOE) in seeking sustainable solutions to the increasing prices of petroleum products in the country.
 
Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay said the oil price hikes have been a persistent problem in the country for years now and the President has yet to take action.

"But the Chief Justice issue is only a couple of months old but he has clearly investigated his commitment to it. Are the President's priorities in the right place?" she said.
 
The lawmaker said prices of oil in the country have risen roughly three or four times for this month alone. If this continues for the next couple of months, Magsaysay said, drivers of public utility vehicles will find it hard to cope with their daily expenses when all of their hard work goes only to rent and gasoline.
 
She also cited the motorists' condition, particularly in coping with the regular price increases with sluggish increase of wages, and the businesses whose transport costs are affected by inflation of petroleum products.
 
"The oil companies are implementing at least P1 to P2 per increase but rollbacks are seldom and only a fraction of the increases is being implemented in the rollbacks," she said.
 
A week ago, Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District) assured to follow up a proposed assistance package from private oil companies for public utility vehicles affected by typhoon Sendong for free change oil and a cash assistance for drivers and conductors also affected by the flood.
 
Rodriguez is also pushing to reduce power rates for at least one year for all affected residents in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.
 
Rodriguez made these commitments during a consultation meeting with Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. and the transport group.

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