Transport groups to discuss options

MANILA, Philippines – Public transport groups will meet tomorrow to discuss their options and the possible actions they will take as oil companies once again increased the prices of gasoline and diesel this weekend.

Efren de Luna, president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (ACTO), said most of the major jeepney and bus groups will meet in a Quezon City restaurant tomorrow morning.

“We will be discussing our options on what to do now. There was another oil price increase but the government has not yet come out with their promised fuel subsidies. We are still waiting for the promised National Food Authority (NFA) rice to be delivered to jeepney terminals,” De Luna said.

“It seems that they are doing everything they can to stop us from increasing our fares but they are not doing anything to stop the oil companies from increasing oil prices,” he said.

“What is happening is unfair to jeepney drivers and operators,” he added.

Zenaida Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), said they are getting tired of making the same calls for government to help their sector.

“The government should already know what to do. We’re just waiting for them to deliver on their promises. We’re not making anymore calls,” Maranan said.

Five oil companies increased the prices of their gasoline, diesel and kerosene by P1.50 per liter Saturday – the 15th time this year.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. was the first major oil player to effect the price adjustments at 12:01 a.m., followed by Petron Corp., Total (Philippines) Corp., Chevron Philippines and Unioil Philippines Petroleum Inc. at 6:01 a.m.

Shell, Petron and Total announced that the prices of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also went up by P1 per kilogram.

Petron said the increases reflect the surge in international oil cost and were implemented as the Dubai crude continued its climb in June, averaging $124.27 per barrel, or $4.77 higher than the May average of $119.50.

The May average is $16 per barrel more than the April average of $103.41, the oil firm added.

“For LPG, we are still reflecting the increase in (contract prices) for June by $55 per metric ton to $907.50,” the company said.

Total, meanwhile, said the prices of its auto-LPG products also went up by P1.50 per liter.