Mobile Alerts  Newsletter  Archives  About Us  Advertise with Us Twitter GMANews.TV Facebook GMANews.TV RSS GMANews.TV
Business

Fuel discounts vowed even with lifting of oil price cap

Petroleum companies have vowed to continue giving fuel discounts to residents of storm-damaged areas even after the government lifted a price cap on oil products.

The assurance was given after Executive Order 845 – which rescinded EO 839 that froze oil products at October 15 levels – fueled fears that prices would immediately shoot up in the coming days.

The new EO was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday.

Under the newly-issued EO, oil players were requested to provide discounts of P2 per liter on diesel, P1.25 per liter on gasoline, and P1.50 per liter on kerosene in Marikina City, Malabon, and Pasig City in Metro Manila, Benguet, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Eastern Laguna, Rizal, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Mountain Province.

Oil companies were also requested to implement "staggered" adjustments in implementing pump price increases.

Petron Corp., the Philippines’ leading refiner, said it will “offer price discounts" on its gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and cooking gas products “until the end of November.

Prices of its automotive and motorcycle lubricants sold at its service stations will also be frozen until December 31, its president Eric Recto added.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC), the local unit of Dutch-based Shell, will continue to provide discounts to commuters and transport groups, said Edgar Chua, the company’s country manager.

Unioil Philippines will keep its prices at October 15 levels as a form of assistance to their customers, Chito Medina Cue, the company’s general manager said.

EO 839 was issued on October 23 after cyclones “Ondoy" and “Pepeng" left massive devastation in the country, particularly in Metro Manila and Northern Luzon.

It was rescinded a week after Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said that fuel supplies in Luzon might hold up for eight to 13 days only.

Citing a report from the National Disaster Coordinating Council, the President said the "underlying reason for the issuance of EO 839 no longer exists."

Subsequently, price ceilings on basic commodities have been lifted.

But Mrs. Arroyo assured that “rehabilitation efforts continued to be undertaken in order to assist the victims of the calamity." - With Aie Balagtas-See, GMANews.TV
Other Business stories
Gov't gets to seize Shell imports in P7.3-B tax row
02/09/2010 | 06:27 PM
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. failed to get an injunction from the Court of Tax Appeals, which on Monday effectively allowed the state to seize the oil firm's import shipments to pay for... More
Indonesia says it’s ‘managing,’ not banning seaweed exports
02/09/2010 | 05:25 PM
Indonesia has denied a plan to ban seaweed exports, saying its growers could meet the demand from Filipino seaweed processors. More
Bidding for Fujimi property lease deferred anew
02/09/2010 | 04:58 PM
The government has again moved the bidding for the lease of its posh real estate property in Fujimi, Japan to March from February. More
NTC warns of inability to monitor telco service
02/09/2010 | 04:10 PM
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Tuesday warned of deteriorating telecommunication service given its inability to upgrade equipment to properly regulate the industry. More
BIR to run after heirs for payment of estate taxes
02/09/2010 | 03:37 PM
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday said it would run after the heirs and beneficiaries of dead people to ensure payment of estate or inheritance tax. The National Statistics Office... More
Toyota recalls 437,000 Prius, hybrid units globally
02/09/2010 | 03:31 PM
TOKYO — Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems — the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest... More
Wall Street slide pulls down local share prices
02/09/2010 | 01:48 PM
Wall Street's close below the psychological level of 10,000 points on Monday — the first time in three months — pulled local stock prices to their lowest in more than four months on Tuesday. More
Oil below $72 in Asia amid economy doubts
02/09/2010 | 01:12 PM
SINGAPORE — Oil prices lingered below $72 a barrel Tuesday in Asia as investors remained uncertain about the strength of global economic growth and demand for crude. More
Palace restores P65-B debt service cut in national budget
02/09/2010 | 12:45 PM
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has restored almost P65 billion worth of debt service cuts that lawmakers had realigned to fund their pork barrel projects this year. More
Filinvest buys out foreign partners
02/09/2010 | 11:01 AM
Gotianun-led Filinvest Land, Inc. has completed a P1.163-billion buyout of a foreign investment firm's stake in two property projects. More
ADVERTISEMENT
Tariff body presses JG Summit over naphtha cracker proposal
2010-02-09 10:46:51
Plans of JG Summit Petrochemical Corp. to put up a long-delayed raw material facility will be...
Doctor finally looks at charge in Jackson death
2010-02-08 17:29:24
LOS ANGELES – Dr. Conrad Murray, who has been trying to surrender to authorities for a week, will...
CHR's De Lima to visit detained health workers
2010-02-08 09:46:25
The head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will personally look into Saturday's arrest...
Ohio strip club hosts 'Lap dances for Haiti'
2010-02-09 09:52:11
TOLEDO, Ohio – A strip club in Ohio has raised $1,000 for Haitian earthquake relief during what...