BAGUIO CITY – The energy department is being challenged by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – North Luzon Area (PCCI-NLA) to conduct an investigation on why the retail prices of oil products in Baguio and Benguet are described to be excessive compared to its retail prices in the lowlands.
The NCCI-NLA issued the statement during a recent meeting which was graced by Engr. Alfonso T. Lao, area vice president, Jerry Noel F. Mateo, PCCI Region I Regional governor, Juan Johnny dela Cruz, PCCI Cordillera Regional Governor and PCCI Region II Regional Governor Charles T. Lim.
The group added that the prevailing retail prices of oil products in Baguio and Benguet is around P23 to P24 per litter for diesel and P43 to P44 per litter for gasoline but in the lowlands, the retail prices of diesel range from P18 to P19 and P38 to P39 for gasoline which has been considered as unreasonable and excessive considering the short distance from the city and the lowlands.
The business organization argued the idea being vouched by the oil companies that the P5 per litter difference in the retail prices of diesel and gasoline in Baguio and Benguet and the lowlands is actually misleading because as seasoned businessmen, it will not take that much to ferry the oil products from the depots up to the gas stations among other reasons that could be unearthed to justify such big difference in the retail prices of oil products.
According to the group, all oil companies have their own delivery trucks bringing their products up to the different stations in Baguio and Benguet that is why it is not true that the transport cost of oil products would be that high.
The group explained concerned agencies must do something about the excessive retail prices of oil products in Baguio and Benguet because the people seem not to enjoy the subsequent decline in the oil prices in the world market, saying that it would be unfair for local consumers to be deprived the benefits of much lower oil prices compared to the people in the lowlands who are now enjoying the fruits of much lower oil prices.
The business group pointed out the high retail prices of oil continues to deprive the ordinary citizens with reasonable decline in the prices of basic commodities as being clamoured by consumers groups, citing that most local businessmen are not inclined to grant more discounts to consumers because of the high transport cost of fuel and basic products from their respective suppliers and manufacturers.
The group claimed it is high time that concerned government agencies and consumer groups get their acts together in order to put added pressure to oil companies for them to further lower the retail prices of oil products in Baguio and Benguet for the local residents to benefit from much lower buying prices of diesel and gasoline.
By Dexter A. See
