Wednesday, January 10, 2007 Councilor asks biz firms to be fair to consumers By Grace L. Plata
COUNCILOR Peter Laviña urged his colleagues in the Davao City Council to act as the voice of the people in calling the attention of authorities and private firms especially those in the oil and transport industry to be fair to the consumers.
Laviña said these companies shortchanged the consumers, which is manifested by the firm's failure to adjust its prices in proportion to the decrease of prices of oil in the world market and strengthening of the peso against the US dollar.
In his privilege speech, Laviña said the increase in the prices of LPG, gasoline products, and surcharges of airlines last year was deemed reasonable due to the rising cost of crude oil.
This year, the price of crude has reduced to $56 per barrel compared to last year's highest at more than $70 per barrel and the peso-dollar closed Tuesday at 48.83 from over 51.50 last year.
"Unfortunately, oil and transport companies have not adjusted their prices and fares accordingly. Thus, they are raking huge profits at the expense of the consumers," Laviña said.
Laviña asks the City Council to address the matter in behalf of the consumers of Davao City by asking the companies for price rollback of oil products and the suspension of fuel surcharges of commercial airlines.
