Recto to consumers: Try other oil firms apart from Shell

MANILA, Philippines – With Pilipinas Shell experiencing supply problems following the shutdown of the oil pipeline from Batangas to Manila, Sen. Ralph Recto urged consumers to source their fuel needs from other players like Chevron and Petron until the situation normalizes.

Recto, who is currently in Shanghai, China, said he expects the two other big players in the oil industry to have prepared for this situation with Shell so there should be enough supply to cover the requirements of motorists.

Many Shell gas stations have already experienced run outs of various petroleum products, particularly premium gasoline.

Pilipinas Shell vice president for communications Roberto Kanapi said the “run outs in gasoline stations are expected to continue for a number of weeks as there is a backlog of deliveries.”

“A continued shutdown of the pipeline is unsustainable. We have always maintained that the pipeline is still the safest, most reliable and efficient mode of transportation for petroleum products,” Kanapi said.

Recto said he sees the problem as temporary and that the supply of Shell should normalize soon.

“Be patient, I understand that it (pipeline) is being constructed. In the meantime, my advice to consumers is to source from the other petroleum companies,” Recto said.

“This is not a shutdown. I see them transporting by land,” he added.

However, he warned the other industry players against taking advantage of the situation by raising their prices even if this is unwarranted.

He said that the opportunity for higher sales for the other oil companies should not be exploited to the detriment of consumers.

While the leaks have been traced and fixed by its operator, the Lopez-owned First Pacific Industrial Corp., the pipeline is still inoperable because the city government of Makati wants to be sure that there are no other leaks.