LPGMA sees delay of LPG supply to Batangas, Laguna, Quezon

Three southern Luzon provinces hit hard by recent tropical cyclones may have to wait a little longer for their liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply to normalize, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers’ Association said Monday. In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, LPGMA president Arnel Ty said a collapsed bridge in Batangas is delaying the transport of LPG from a depot of Pilipinas Shell in Barangay (village) Tabangao in Batangas City. "Wala namang shortage. Mayroon lang delay (ng supply) sa may Batangas, Laguna, Quezon dahil nga dun sa Tabangao Bridge. Hinihintay pa nating maiayos ito within three months (There is no shortage. There is only a delay in LPG supply to Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon because of the Tabangao bridge. We’re waiting for its repair within three months)," Ty said. The LPGMA official referred to the Bridge of Promise in Batangas City, which collapsed two weeks ago at the height of Typhoon “Santi." The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earlier said the bridge’s reconstruction would take about three months. In the meantime, Ty said, LPG tankers are being filled up at the Liquigaz depot in Mariveles, Bataan in Central Luzon to ensure that the Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon are given adequate LPG supply. But the longer lines at the terminal could eventually affect LPG supply in Central Luzon. "Pila-pila na kasi ang mga tanker. So naapektuhan rin yung nandoon na (The tankers are queing up, and the long lines affect those who originally get their supply there)," Ty said. Asked if the situation could drive LPG prices higher, Ty said: “Yes." However, they would not increase LPG prices in the concerned regions because they are mandated to follow Executive Order 839, which freezes prices of fuel products to October 15 levels in Luzon, which is under a state of calamity due to cyclones Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma). Still, Ty said that if they had it their way, they want the price freeze removed because LPG dealers could start feeling the EO 839’s brunt by December. "Hindi kami magtataas ng presyo for November dahil nga dun sa price freeze. Kaya pa naman i-absorb ng mga dealer. Pero sa December, hindi na talaga kaya yun (We will not increase LPG prices because of the price freeze. The dealers can still absorb the costs, as of now. But when December comes, they can no longer do so)," Ty said. Earlier in the day, Ty said independent dealers are mulling a P33 price hike per 11-kilogram LPG tank by December to reflect LPG prices in the international market. He added that the LPGMA is also "hoping" that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would lift EO 839 soon. - GMANews.TV