LOCAL GAS PRICES PROBED

MAASIN CITY – Due to the escalating price of gasoline products in the city the past few months, the city council has called on the owners of gasoline stations to explain the price increases.

The council through its committee on business enterprise headed by its chairman Nestor Sy and committee member Atty. Romeo Geniston had the gasoline station owners explain the reasons why the pump prices in Maasin City where noticeable higher than other cities and towns in the Visayas.

It was revealed during the deliberations that the gasoline prices in Maasin was seven to ten pesos higher than in most places in the Visayas.

Gasoline station owners explained that Maasin City was considered a "tail end area" due to its location and their tankers had to travel further to reach it.

City legislators also questioned the "mystery" of why nationally announced price rollbacks were delayed and sometimes not followed in Maasin City, and when price hikes were announced, the price increases were immediately imposed Gasoline station owners explained that since they are businesses, they only roll back prices when the discounted fuel from Manila and Cebu arrives at their stations in Maasin City.

In contrast price hikes where immediately implemented because gasoline owners want to comply with the announced gas price increases and it would also benefit their business to do so.

Due to the steady increase of gasoline prices throughout the country the city council is studying the feasibility of convincing Petron and Shell to build a gas depot in the city to help decrease the effects of price hikes on local gas consumers.

A prominent trader who SLT interviewed said this was a good idea and worth pursuing. (R.M.REYES)

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