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Aquino orders review of Oil Deregulation Law


President Benigno Aquino III has ordered a review of the Oil Deregulation Law to allow the entry of more industry players and enhance the competition, deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing Wednesday. The order came after Aquino and other government officials met with 30 transport group leaders in Malacañang. “Inutusan po ni Pangulo ‘yung mga ahensyang concerned na pag-aralan po ‘yung pagrerepaso doon sa Oil Deregulation Law dahil sa mungkahi po ng Pangulo, there is room for more competition," Valte said. Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug, who was present at the meeting and at the press briefing, said they may recommend a provision that would make it easier to penalize oil firms that will overprice their products. But so far, Layug said the Department of Energy (DOE) has not monitored any overpricing on the part of oil companies. He said their proposed amendment would make the oil companies fear the government more. “They will think twice. Ngayon, when you do increase or go down sa batas walang nakalagay na range. Sa Consumer Act hindi ka pwede magtaas ng more than 10 percent, ngayon sa Oil Deregulation Law wala yan," he said. Pantawid Pasada In the meantime, to ease the impact of rising price of oil products, the Department of Energy will continue with the implementation of the Pantawid Pasada program, a subsidy given to jeepney and tricycle drivers to help them cope with oil price increases. Layug said only P70 million of the P300 million fund for the program have so far been used. He said this was because some jeepney drivers failed to get their cards that are used to avail of the subsidy. “The original program has P300 million for PUJs (public utility jeepneys) so we are expecting that whatever amount is left, we will reload the cards and we have been mandated by the President to institute the necessary platform and approvals for the second reloading," he said. He, however, said the Pantawid Pasada program was not discussed during the meeting.


Transport strike Malacañang was optimistic that there will no longer be any transport strike as the transport group leaders seemed satisfied with the way the President addressed their concerns. “Ang Pangulo po ay inaasahan po na hindi po sila magsa-strike. Nagpahiwatig po sila na maganda po ‘yung naging usapin ngayong hapon at ang kinailangan lang naman po ay mapakinggan ‘yung mga hinaing po nila," Layug said. “So we are expecting that, hopefully, they would not go on strike and the President was very clear that we are open to dialogue with them," he added. Layug said President Aquino directed each of the heads of the agencies and departments to follow up on the complaint of the transport groups and submit to him a report as soon as possible. Layug said the transport leaders took the opportunity to complain to Aquino the extortion activities in some government agencies and local government units. The President, in response, vowed to dismiss any government personnel who will be found guilty of extortion. “Ang tugon po ng Pangulo doon sa mga reklamo po nila sa mga nangongotong ay hindi po natin ito ito-tolerate at binigyan na po ng instructions si Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo na makipag-coordinate para makuha po ‘yung mga impormasyon para maitigil ho natin itong kalakarang ito," Valte said. “Ang commitment po ng Pangulo ay tatanggalin ho ‘yung mga ganitong kalakaran at sisiguraduhin ho natin na kapag mayroon hong nai-report, iimbestigahan at kung kailangan po, kung mayroon pong ebidensya talaga, ay tatanggalin sa serbisyo," she added. Alternative fuel Aquino also ordered Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II to study the technical and financial aspect of using alternative fuels. “Inaasahan po natin na isang malaking tulong po ito lalo na sa hanay po ng transport kasi po nasasaktan sila ‘pag tumataas ang diesel. Kung papalitan naman natin ‘yung sasakyan nila, gawin nating LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or CNG (compressed natural gas), at least hindi na po nila madadama ‘yung oil price hikes," Layug said. President Aquino also offered assistance to transport groups that want to set up a cooperative where they can sell tires, batteries and other vehicle accessories to give their members additional income. He also assured the groups that the moratorium on new franchises will stay and he ordered Robredo to coordinate with local government units and concerned agencies regarding the the implementation of the single ticketing system. Aside from Roxas and Robredo, others present during the meeting were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, National Economic and Development Authority director general Cayetano Paderanga Jr, Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares. The transport organizations represented during the dialogue were 1-UTAK, National Land Transport Council, Metrobuses, Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines, Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association, Metro Bus Transport Club, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, Pasang Masda, Liga ng Transportasyon at Opereytor sa Pilipinas, Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide, Pagkakisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon, Jeepney Transport Council, Philippine National Taxi Operators Association, Associationof Taxi Operators in Metro Manila. - KBK, GMA News
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