Dinagat Islands’ town gas stations face inquiry over sudden spike in their fuel prices
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The local government of San Jose in the Province of Dinagat Islands, through its Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), issued a ‘letter of inquiry’ to establishments selling fuel products with significant price increases, during the conduct of price monitoring of fuel products on March 9.
The letter of inquiry allows establishments – filling stations and gasoline stations – to explain and justify their fuel price adjustments, ensuring adherence to applicable guidelines as stipulated in Batas Pambansa Blg. 33 and Presidential Decree No. 1865.
The LPCC’s price monitoring initiative safeguarded consumers in the island province from unauthorized and unscheduled price increases of fuel products. It further reinforced the municipality’s commitment to safeguarding consumers’ interests while maintaining fair and transparent trade practices.
The activity was participated in by representatives from the provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the San Jose Municipal Agriculture Office.
After the monitoring activity, LPCC members attended the executive meeting of LGU San Jose, headed by Mayor Ruben J. Zuniega, where they reached an initial agreement to sustain the daily monitoring of fuel products to ensure transparency and better tracking of price changes in the municipality.
Also, LGU San Jose, as a mitigating measure, has started publishing on its Facebook page the prices of fuel products of the 13 gasoline stations in the town. This transparency will allow communities to compare filling station prices and encourage locals to report any discrepancies.
Benflor Biong, a government employee based in San Jose, expressed gratitude to the LGU for regulating and monitoring fuel prices in the area to prevent market malpractices in the town.
“This price monitoring at the local level is essential to ensure that the government indeed is protecting the welfare of the consumers and commuters from unauthorized and unscheduled price increases of petroleum products, including hoarding and fuel dispensing,” Biong said.
He is hopeful that the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, affecting the major oil-producing countries in the Gulf region, will come to an end as soon as possible to stabilize the global oil market and for world peace.
Meanwhile, the LPCC, headed by the local chief executive, serves as the city or municipal body responsible for monitoring the prices and supply of necessities and prime commodities, and in coordinating with concerned agencies to promote price stability and protect consumer welfare. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)
