DUMAGUETE CITY, (PNA) -– The Dept. of Energy has assured the public there is no overpricing of fuel prices in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
DOE Region 7 Director Antonio Labios disclosed during a forum recently that this is based on the monitoring conducted by the agency’s oil price division.
Key officials of the DOE were in Dumaguete Thursday for a multi-sectoral advocacy campaign on the Downstream Oil Industry, which aims to ensure that retailers and other key players in the oil industry comply with quality and quantity standards.
Director Labios told local media in an interview that fuel prices in Dumaguete and other parts of Negros Oriental are still with the reasonable range of oil companies.
But those who attended the activity at a local hotel said they still believe that the prices of gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products in the province are “overpriced” as opposed to that in other areas such as Cebu City and Metro Manila.
Fuel prices in Dumaguete and other parts of Negros Oriental are higher by as much as P1 or more per liter compared to other larger areas.
The disparity in the fuel prices is largely attributed to the absence of depots in Negros Oriental and transportation costs from Cebu or Bacolod City where gas tankers originate.
Labios is urging the public to report possible violations of gasoline dealers and retailers to the DOE-Department of Justice task force.
Meanwhile, DOE Assistant Director Rodela Romero of the agency’s Oil Industry Management Bureau said the difference in fuel prices is due to a number of reasons, such as handling costs from source to users, economies of scale and the number of market forces.
Also, she said fuel prices are dictated by the world market, currency exchange rate and prices of raw material, as well as conflicts in countries that are key oil players in the global market.
Even an oil deregulation is not an assurance of a drop in the fuel prices, she added.
In recent months, about 30 gasoline refilling stations in Dumaguete have sprouted, perceived by many as due to the growing population as well as the higher retail prices locally compared to other areas.
But Romero said this is not an assurance that prices of gasoline and other petroleum products will decrease with the growing number of refilling stations in the city.
An estimated 100 participants to include owners and managers of refilling stations and liquefied petroleum gas, stakeholders, advocacy groups and local officials attended the multi-sectoral advocacy forum.
A demo on the proper calibration of gas dispenser pumps was held at two selected refilling stations to ensure that retailers and owners can meet the standard as mandated by law.
The calibration is to ensure that drivers are not shortchanged and in the event of a violation, a fine could go as much as P10,000 per refilling gas pump.
The multi-sectoral advocacy campaign intends to forge partnership with the local government units to effectively protect the interest and welfare of the constituents, promote safety, and ensure fair trade practices, according to Jenny Tilos of the Philippine Information Agency.
The DOE activity was held in partnership with the PIA to allow the public to raise their concerns on various issues on petroleum products.