Dealers see P3/kg LPG price hike this year

MANILA, Philippines - Dealers of liquefied petroleum gas on Saturday said the $65 per metric ton surge in the world prices of LPG might translate to a P3 per kilogram increase in the prices of the said fuel product used in heating appliances and vehicles. "Ang problema pag tingnan natin ang trend sa world market, pataas. Mas minabuti naming ianunsyo para ma-cushion ang increase next month by letting the consumer know," Arnel Ty, president of the LPG Marketers Association, said on government-run dzRB radio. "Mainam ngayon pa lang ready na sila habang mababa pa (If we look at world market trends, prices of LPG are going up. We decided to announce the bad news now so the consumer can prepare)," he added. Ty said the $65 per metric ton increase might also wipe out this year's P8 per liter rollback of autogas, as well as the decrease in the prices of LPG per kg. Autogas is the common name for LPG when it is used as a fuel for vehicles with internal combustion engines. There is no indication that the trend in the increase of LPG prices will be reversed, especially during the "ber" months, according to Ty. "This year, lahat nag-umpisa nang tumaas ang produktong petrolyo. Ang di magandang balita every time dumating ang ber months, doon na nag-stockpile. Sa tingin natin kung tingnan ang history malamang tumaas (This year the prices are starting to go up again. The bad news is that every time the ber months come, LPG prices go up because the stockpiling begins. If history will be followed, prices will likely go up again)," he said. Ty is encouraging motorists to convert their engines for LPG, which is cheaper than gasoline and diesel. Autogas costs P27.70 per liter, diesel is P44 to 45 per liter, while gasoline is sold at P52 per liter. For his part, Thompson Lantion, chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said LTFRB officials were talking to jeep operators on the conversion of their vehicles' engines for LPG use. Lantion said that while the conversion would cost P60,000 to P70,000, it could result in 40 percent savings in the long run. - GMANews.TV