MANILA – Motorists are bearing the impact of the steep increase of the price per liter of gasoline and diesel earlier this week.
According to a report on “24 Oras”, the price per liter of gasoline ranges between P49 to P59 in Metro Manila.
The price per liter of diesel, P40 to P46.
In Baguio City, however, the price per liter of gasoline reached a high P63.70 while that of diesel went up to as a high as P48.18.
“Nung pinatawag natin ang local retailers, ang kanilang justification is, unang una, ito daw ay bunga ng hauling cost,” Baguio City vice mayor Edison Bilog said.
Councilor Benny Bomogao was also dismayed by the high cost of fuel in the mountain city.
“We are not given a solid reason why the fuel cost or price is higher here in Baguio than in the low lands,” Bomogao said.
The Department of Energy maintained that the price of fuel was dependent on market forces and competition.
In Metro Manila, for instance, one fuel station sells diesel at P43.81 per liter and gasoline at P55 to P58.
Drive a bit farther and the next station sells fuel at lower rates – P41.90 for diesel and P52.17 for gasoline.
“Kapag maraming ka-kumpetensiya, definitely, magkakaroon ng pababaan, ‘yung ganun. But primarily, ang isa sa mga factor ‘yung operating cost,” said Rodela Romero, assistant director of the Oil Industry Management Bureau of the DOE.
“Maaring du’n sa area na ‘yun, mura ‘yung renta nila. Mura ‘yung pasahod,” she added
Oil firms on Tuesday hike the price of gasoline by an average of P1.10 per liter and diesel by P1.20 per liter. (GMA News)
