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Fuel price hike pushes costs past P90 per liter in some provinces, over P100 in Odiongan


Fuel prices in several provinces in the country hit P90 to P100 after oil firms implemented another hike in pump prices this week.

According to Bernadette Reyes’ report on “24 Oras”, the price of premium diesel in Ormoc City, Leyte was P97.25 per liter after fuel companies imposed another P4 for every liter of diesel and over P2 per liter of gasoline. Gasoline prices in the city were over P90.

The latest price hike was the 24th increase this year.

Diesel products in Zamboanga City are now priced at over P94 per liter while gasoline prices in Claveria town, Cagayan province stood at more than P93.

Based on the latest monitoring of the Department of Energy (DoE), gasoline and diesel prices in several gas stations in Palawan were at P90 per liter. Similar prices were reported in Mindoro province.

Prices of petroleum products likewise spiked in Odiongan, Romblon where diesel was at P108 per liter while gasoline was at P107 per liter.

While other areas are reeling from the price hike, gasoline prices in the municipality of Bongao in Tawi-Tawi province are currently at P60 per liter. The local government explained they were sourcing their supply from Malaysia.

Meanwhile, transport group PISTON held a protest earlier in the day to appeal for the suspension of the excise tax and value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products.

Malacañang had previously denied the proposal, saying that the taxes collected were being used to fund various government programs.

PISTON, however, insisted that suspending the taxes would lower fuel prices by up to P15 per liter — a great help for jeepney drivers, especially with the government subsidy not being available to all of them.

“Sa bahagi namin halos direct na buwis namin kada araw. Kung kami ay nagco-consume ng 20 liters per day ay malinaw na P315 kada araw ang aming binubuwis sa pamamagitan pa lamang ng petrolyo,” Ka Mody Floranda, PISTON National President, said.

(For our part, we’re paying direct taxes every day. If we consume 20 liters per day, it’s clear we’re paying P315 per day through taxes on petroleum products.)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), meanwhile, explained the delay in the distribution of the subsidy.

“Nanga-away yung mga hindi makakatanggap kasi sabi nila pare-pareho naman silang driver. Kaya na nga ang kinikilala ng government ‘yun lang mga naka rehistro. ‘Yung mayroong rehistrado sa tricycle regulatory unit,” DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño said.

(Other drivers were complaining that they were not included in the subsidy when they were drivers too. But the government only recognizes those who were registered… those whose registration was filed in the tricycle regulatory unit.)

“Before the end of this month, tapos ‘yan. Kailangan maipamigay na natin yung subsidy na nakalaan dyan,” he said.

(We will finish distribution before the end of this month. The subsidies should be handed out by then.)

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board also said that the first tranche of the subsidy must be distributed before the issuance of the second round. — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA News

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