Retailers' group: LPG prices to go up Wednesday

Consumers are in for another Holy Week whammy as prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will go up by P1/kilo or P11 per 11-kg tank starting Holy Wednesday, after some fuel firms raised prices of their products. The LPG Marketers’ Association (LPGMA) said this was due to the $45/metric ton increase in contract prices of the product, radio dzBB reported Monday night. LPGMA party-list Rep. Arnel Ty said this means prices of an 11-kg tank sold by the association’s members will go up from the present P684 to P695. Last April 7, Ty hinted at another round of price hikes in May, citing the continued political instability in some oil-producing countries in the Middle East. But at the time, he said there will not be any likely price hike in April. “Ang masasabi ko diyan hanggang ang sitwasyon sa Middle East, kung saan galing ang 90 porsyento ng petrolyo sa buong daigdig ay magulo, wala tayong nakikitang magandang balita," he had said in an interview on dzBB radio. Otherwise, he said April is usually a month when LPG prices go down. “Ito ang buwan na dapat bababa ang presyo, pero tumaas pa rin. Yan ang isang bagay na wala na talagang magagawang paraan ang gobyerno," he said. Wednesday’s expected LPG price hike will come after an increase in prices of fuel imposed by fuel companies Tuesday morning. A separate report on dzBB said Shell and Chevron hiked prices of gasoline by 60 centavos per liter; and diesel by 25 centavos per liter effective Tuesday morning. Petron was to impose a similar fuel price hike at noon, the report added. The fuel price hikes have prompted militant transport groups led by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) to conduct a Holy Week-themed protest this Wednesday. — LBG, GMA News