Chatto seeks Palace intervention on fuel price disparity in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Fuel prices in Bohol remains higher, to this day, by P8 to P12 per liter than those in neighboring provinces, prompting Gov. Edgar Chatto to decide to raise this matter to Malacañang and maybe to file cases against those found to be manipulating the prices.

Chatto said he would be consulting with national officials of the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission to address the prevailing problem, and that he would combine forces with 1st district Rep. Rene Relampagos to elevate the matter to Congress.

The DOE already sent a team to Bohol to inspect all fuel stations in the city and the towns to verify reports of price manipulation and in response to the clamor of Boholanos for reduction of the disparity of prices here and other provinces.

DOE-7 regional director Antonio Labios visited Chatto recently to inform the latter about the survey on the prices of fuel in the province. Chatto assigned Executive Assistant Glenn Doloritos to assist the DOE team in their rounds to the towns.

The DOE will later issue a comparison on prices of oil over the past three years, covering all islands, provinces, some cities and the entire Bohol. — (FREEMAN)