FUEL CRISIS: Crackdown on abusive gas stations sought

National

LAWMAKERS have called for a crackdown on gas stations taking advantage of the ongoing fuel crisis by prematurely raising pump prices.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution urging President Marcos to create an inter-agency task force to run after abusive oil companies and gas stations and to monitor oil inventories.

According to Gatchalian, some retail outlets are taking advantage of the global crisis by implementing immediate and unreasonable price hikes.

“I filed a resolution urging the executive to convene a task force which will monitor fuel prices, and maybe even the price of basic commodities,” Gatchalian said in a radio interview on dzBB per a report by Philstar.

Gatchalian recommended the task force be headed by the Department of Energy and will coordinate with the Department of Justice and trade agencies for the filing of cases utilizing existing laws to penalize violators.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson also asked the public to be involved by reporting erring retailers to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units (LGUs).

Lacson warned that raising prices ahead of official adjustments constitutes “hoarding and profiteering.”

Lacson said such actions violate Republic Act 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act, and Republic Act 7394 also known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Lacson added that DOE Sec. Sharon Garin has already communicated with the PNP and LGUs to monitor and initiate criminal or administrative proceedings against abusive operators.(MyTVCebu)