WHILE remaining non-committal to the lifting of the freeze on prices of petroleum products, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera welcomed a proposal of oil companies to provide a so-called package of relief in response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call to help typhoon victims.

Speaking to reporters following a close-door meeting of oil companies and the DOJ-Department of Energy (DOE) task force on oil deregulation, Devanadera noted a “change in attitude” among the oil companies regarding the continued implementation of Executive Order 839.

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The assailed executive order freezes the prices of oil products in the entire Luzon, which has been greatly hit by calamities last month, to their October 15 levels.

“I think there is a noticeable change in attitude. We have explained to them that the EO is only temporary in nature and it addresses an urgent need until such time that there is no longer an emergency situation. I think ang panalo dito yung tao,” she said.

Devanadera said Petron, one of the Big 3 oil players in the country, specifically offered giving a package of relief to “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” victims, particularly in specific areas in Luzon that are still in need of assistance.

Petron’s proposal was met with approval by other oil companies and by the DOJ-DOE task force.

Petron earlier offered to open its book of accounts to put to rest allegations that it is earning profits amid its claims that they are operating at a loss due to high importation costs.

But Devanadera did not confirm whether the package involved lower oil prices in these areas.

She also declined to comment when asked whether she will recommend to the NDCC the lifting of the EO, saying that decision belonged to NDCC chairman Gilbert Teodoro.

“We are just in the process of mapping and evaluating so that all benefits and reliefs will go to the people who are very much in need. One proposal is to the identification of affected localities,” she said.

These proposals will be submitted to the National Disaster Coordinating Council, which will meet today (Tuesday) to assess whether or not to maintain the emergency status or limit its coverage. (JCV/Sunnex)