DOE inspecting gasoline stations amid reports of diesel running out

The Department of Energy (DOE) is conducting inspections on gasoline stations amid reports that some of them ran out of diesel to sell to motorists.

"May isa kaming natanggap na report from sa media na rin, salamat din diyan. Pero kahapon mismo pinapuntahan na namin. At na-inspect na 'yan," DOE-Oil Management Bureau director Rino Abad said in an interview on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

(We received a report from media, thank you for that. But yesterday we already had that [gasoline station] inspected.)

"At meron kami ngayon na overall na polisiya na mag-enforce on the ground lahat ng mga field offices namin kasama na 'yung head office at binabantayan lahat ng gasolinahan. Hindi lang 'yung pagho-hoard — kasi hoarding 'yan eh — kundi 'yung mismong mandated na price adjustment, dapat mabantayan," he added.

(And we have an overall policy now that all field offices and our head office may enforce on the ground and monitor all gasoline stations. This is to monitor hoarding, but also increasing prices above the mandated price adjustment.)

Abad said that with 14,000 gasoline stations throughout the country, they may not be able to visit each one, but those found hoarding or not following the mandated price adjustments will be penalized.

"Hindi ganu'n karami (ang mai-inspect) kasi mga 14,000 gasoline stations tayo meron sa buong Pilipinas. Hindi naman sabihin na lahat 'yan mabibisita namin pero 'pag kayo ay natamaan, kayong mga gasolinahan ang ma-inspect namin, eh sorry na lang, mape-penalize kayo," he said.

(We may not be able to inspect many because there are 14,000 gasoline stations in the Philippines. We can't say we will visit each one, but if we find a gasoline station in violation, you will be penalized.)

"Ongoing ngayon 'yung inspection. Mula kahapon hanggang Friday ho 'yan," Abad said, adding that inspections may continue next week.

(The inspections are ongoing starting yesterday until Friday.)

"So every week, nakadiretso ang mga report. Immediately pagbalik nila, didiretso ang report sa legal office namin at doon na sinisimulan 'yung mga show-cause order. And then kung may warrant, may warrant naman to penalize, ipe-penalize ko sila," he said.

(So every week, when inspectors arrive back from their inspections, the reports will immediately go to our legal office. That's where the show-cause orders will be issued. And then if there is a warrant to penalize, we will penalize the gas stations.)

Some gas stations in Quezon City ran out of diesel as early as Monday night as motorists rushed to gas up ahead of the effectivity of the price increases on Tuesday morning.

Oil price hike

The DOE announced on Monday the maximum permitted price adjustments for the week starting Tuesday, July 21, as follows:

• Gasoline: Up to P3.65 per liter
• Diesel: Up to P10.68 per liter
• Kerosene: Up to P11.77 per liter

The oil price hike came after the reescalation of tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East. —KG, GMA News