Ecija gas stations urged to help bring down fuel prices
GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija – The Sangguniang Bayan here has warned that the municipal government may opt to utilize the police power of the state not to issue business permit to “uncooperative” gas refilling stations of concerned local petroleum industry players amid urgent calls from the LGU to bring down the fuel pump prices in the town, a radio report here said.
Lawyer Virgilio G. Fabros, chair of the SB Committee on Human Rights brought up the said idea during a regular session of the municipal council with owners and representatives of gas refilling stations of local petroleum industry players held Monday here.
“Baka dumating kami sa punto na hindi kami magbibigay ng business permit sa mga gasolinahan na masyadong malaki ang mark-up, we can do that (thru this) police power, huwag na tayo dumating sa ganoon kaya ipinapaliwanag ito. We will be forced to stop the issuance of business permit kapag nagpatuloy kayo sa pitong piso-walong piso, hindi po maaari iyon, we have the police power the LGU of Guimba, kaya kailangan magtulungan po tayo,” stressed Fabros, a former Ilocos Sur provincial police director before becoming a councilman here.
During the hearing, the SB appealed to gas refilling station owners to cooperate with the LGU in bringing down the pump prices to reasonable levels amid complaints from farmers and transport sector groups about the exorbitant prices of their petroleum products compared to their counterparts in adjacent towns during this pandemic.
Fabros also asked if there is an on-going honest to goodness “price war” among the 13 gas stations operating in the town.
SB Presiding Officer and Vice Mayor Jesulito “Doc Lito” Galapon followed suit: “Bakit tanging sa bayan ng Guimba lamang mas mataas ng P7 per litro ng gasolina. Dapat sagutin at pag-isipan nila ng mabuti ito para sa kapakanan ng mga magsasaka at transport sector.”
Among those present during the SB session were owners and representatives of Petron, Total, PTT, SEAOIL, and KKK gas refilling stations.
The SB meeting with local petroleum industry players here was prompted was complaints from the LGU and other concerned sectors why their fuel pump prices are P7 to P10 higher compared to those in the adjacent areas of Baloc, Sto. Domingo, and the towns of Quezon and Talavera, and in Pura, and Gerona both in Tarlac.
