No rollback here, just Luzon

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Energy yesterday clarified that the oil price rollback, which President Gloria Arroyo recently ordered, is only for Luzon, particularly areas that are affected by the typhoons that hit the country.

This amid reports that many motorists and vehicle owners in Cebu complained as fuel industry players, especially the so-called “Big Three”—Shell, Caltex and Petron failed to reduce their prices despite an executive order issued by Malacañang.

DOE-7 director Antonio Labios explained that the EO that was issued last Friday was only directed for the fuel outlets found in the northern part of the country.

EO No. 836 directed oil companies to "maintain prices of petroleum products prevailing on the last landfall of typhoon Pepeng during the period of emergency in the entire island of Luzon.”

The order was based in section 14 of the Oil Deregulation Law that states "in times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the DOE may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any person engaged in the industry."

Labios said that for this reason, Visayas and Mindanao are not included in the price rollback which has already been implemented by some companies in Luzon with almost P2 rollback.

However, he said that the EO is only temporary to order to help the affected residents and businesses in Luzon.

Labios explained that as far as he know, when it comes to orders like this, he said it is mandatory for the companies to abide by the order or else they have to face legal actions if they fail to follow the directive.

Meanwhile, Labios is warning LPG consumers not to buy from those making door-to-door campaigns and selling LPG gadgets such as regulators while claiming that they are representatives from the DOE.

He said they are not endorsing any product nor do they have any authorized personnel to do such campaigns.

According to him, they have received reports regarding the matter so they are warning the consumers to be cautious especially that the products sold are questionable in quality. – AJ de la Torre/WAB (THE FREEMAN)