Philippine motorists urged to report stations failing to cut fuel prices
The Department of Energy says fuel price reductions must take effect in full, rather than be spread across several adjustments.
The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) has asked motorists to identify petrol stations that fail to apply mandated fuel price cuts in full, saying it will investigate reports of non-compliance.
DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad said the reductions must be implemented in a single adjustment. The department said it had not discussed phasing in the cuts with oil companies.
Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said that while increases are staggered, spreading out decreases would deny consumers the benefit of the reductions. The DOE warned that companies failing to comply would have to explain their actions or face reprimand under the Oil Deregulation Law.
Abad said the law contains an emergency provision allowing the department to direct aspects of fuel companies’ operations, including mandated price adjustments. Failure to follow that provision carries a penalty, he said.
GMA’s 24 Oras reported that some motorists had noticed little difference after the cuts, while others still considered prices high. Abad asked complainants to provide stations’ exact addresses so officials could visit and investigate.
