Support for EO 474 snowballs

The clamor for the immediate implementation of the controversial Executive Order 474 creating the Philippine Strategic Oil, Gas, Energy Resources and Power Infrastructure Office continued to snowball.

This, as prices of oil and its derivative petroleum products continued to rise, posing a serious threat to the country’s economy.

This developed as three big transport groups announced earlier this week that they would file a petition for a fare increase after oil firms raised the pump prices of oil by 50 centavos per liter.

Among the transport groups that are set to file a petition for fare hike are the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap) under the leadership of Efren de Luna, Zenaida Maranan and Boy Vargas, respectively.

The impending fare hike has prompted Piston, a militant transport group, to issue a statement calling for the immediate implementation of the executive order.

"The implementation of EO 474 would pave the way for the government to initiate concrete programs that will directly address the worsening energy problems of the country," said Steve Ranjo, Piston secretary-general.

He urged President Arroyo to proceed with her plans for the greater good of the majority of the people and ignore those opposing it whose main objectives are mainly to protect their own interests.

The President signed EO 474 last December to rationalize and speed up the energy programs of the DOE, but its implementation was temporarily shelved after Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla expressed opposition, arguing that it might intrude into the functions and programs of his department.

EO 474 was conceptualized to spur activities in the energy sector with the end-view of harnessing government assets into something that can be used for energy-related projects and purposes.