In step with the steady drop in global crude prices, Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. made another sharp one-time rollback in pump prices yesterday – P4 per liter for diesel and P6 for gasoline.
Chito Medina-Cue Jr., Unioil general manager, said that with the latest price cuts, diesel products now sell for P34.97 per liter and unleaded gasoline, P38.49 per liter.
The other day, Seaoil rolled back its pump prices by P2 per liter.
Cue pointed out that at P34.97 per liter, Unioil’s Pure Diesel Plus B1 is now P1 to P2 cheaper than comparable products of competitors.
Its unleaded gasoline now costs P38.49 per liter; Quantum Premium Gasoline, P38.99; and regular gasoline, P36.21.
“We are now lower by P1 to P2.70 per liter in our gasoline and diesel products compared with other players,” the Unioil official said.
Unioil last rolled back its pump prices last Oct. 30 – P6 per liter for diesel and P2.50 for gasoline.
In September, it cut its diesel price by P3 per liter and P2 for gasoline.
“This is the second biggest price rollback for this year and Unioil will continue this commitment to the public to have a fair and competitive pricing,” Medina-Cue said.
“It’s hard for us to speculate but we are clearly paying close attention to movements in the international market. What Unioil can assure the public is that we will continue selling high quality products at fair prices,” he added.
Unioil, one of the country’s so-called independent oil players, has 40 service stations and retail outlets in Luzon alone.
It has embarked on a P90-million program to build more outlets in Makati, Pasay, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Manila and Quezon City.
But Flying V vice president Joey Cruz disputed Unioil’s claim that it now sells cheaper products.
“We shall not resort to using media to sensationalize our announcements with deceiving numbers to advance our image and credibility,” Cruz said.
“Although it is but natural to resort to these actions periodically to gain media advantage, we have to date announced rollbacks of P3 for diesel, P4 for gas,” he said.
“To match the most recent announcement, we only need to deduct the above figures from their announced levels,” he added.
PUVs still popular
Despite the significant decline in fuel prices, mass transportation appears to have gained popularity among Metro Manila residents.
Transport authorities have noted bigger number of commuters taking buses, jeepneys, Metro Rail Transit, and Light Rail Transit especially during rush hours.
They said the phenomenon has resulted in “more manageable” traffic along EDSA, Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare connecting Caloocan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay.
“Based on actual account, there is no increase (in the number of vehicles in Metro Manila),” Metro Manila Development Authority general manager Robert Nacianceno said.
But some motorists feel that traffic along EDSA has gotten worse because there are now more cars on the roads due to cheaper fuel prices.
Taxi drivers, in particular, complain that traffic has become heavier apparently due to the sharp decline in fuel costs.
But MMDA executive director Angelito Vergel de Dios said he doesn’t think car owners want to spend more on fuel just because pump prices have gone down.
“The prices of other goods remain high,” he said in Filipino.
“A three to five percent rise in vehicle volume will not cause much traffic, especially now with the faster yellow lane,” De Dios said referring to the MMDA’s program which sets special lanes on EDSA exclusively for buses. – With Michael Punongbayan