Price ceilings set for gas, diesel fuel in Cebu
by Ivan Rey Tan
GOVERNOR Gwendolyn Garcia has set price ceilings for gasoline and diesel fuel in Cebu, after Typhoon Odette caused a blackout, a spike in demand for fuel for generators and a perceived fuel shortage amid the limited number of gas stations operating after they were also impacted by Odette.
The price ceiling takes effect Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021.
Garcia became emotional as she faced the mayors and heads of different government agencies during a meeting at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
The governor could not hold back her tears after she showed footage of the devastation caused by Typhoon Odette (Rai) in the Province of Cebu.
“I know that many of your constituents lost their homes, and you are really at your edge. The Province will help as much as we can,” Garcia told the mayors in Cebuano.
Garcia added that she will not hesitate to exercise emergency powers, including giving orders to arrest those individuals who will not work with haste for the rehabilitation of the province.
This after the Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) 3 was not able to light up parts of Asturias and Balamban towns in western Cebu last Tuesday, December 21, after the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) was not able to provide electric power.
“This is what I am going to do. Let’s talk about human rights later because what is important right now is the human rights of those suffering,” Garcia said in Cebuano.
A representative from Cebeco 1 said during the meeting that the towns of Ginatilan, Samboan and Santander were already energized Tuesday, December 21 and the remaining towns will be fully energized on or before January 1, 2022.
On the part of Cebeco 2, the towns of Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, Borbon, Tabogon and the City of Bogo were already fully energized.
Also present during the meeting were representatives from major petroleum companies who gave assurance that there is enough supply of gasoline and petroleum products for the entire Cebu.
The governor also issued Executive Order Number 50-A, as sanctioned by the Department of Energy, that establishes a price ceiling for gasoline and diesel fuel in Cebu.
In Metro Cebu, including the City of Talisay, Municipality of Minglanilla, and Cordova, the maximum price for gasoline is P72 for major players and P62 for white stations. The diesel price will be set at a maximum of P60 for major players and P55 for white stations.
For component cities and municipalities of the province located within the contiguous Island of Cebu, the maximum price for gasoline is P77 for major players and P67 for white stations. The diesel price will be set at a maximum of P65 for major players and P60 for white stations.
For those municipalities not located in the main Island of Cebu, the maximum price for gasoline is P79 for major players and P69 for white stations. The diesel price will be set at a maximum of P67 for major players and P62 for white stations.
Department of Energy Visayas Field Office Director Russ Mark Gamallo said if the gasoline station’s current price is below the new price ceiling, they can no longer make any increase.
“If ever there are stations that will overprice, we will not hesitate to cancel your permits and file necessary legal actions,” said Gamallo.
Romeo Comabig, president of the Cebu Bankers Club, assured that there is no shortage of cash for the entire Cebu.
Combig said they are experiencing problems with their automated teller machines or ATMs because of the shortage of diesel and gasoline to power their electric generators.
Representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine National Police also attended the meeting.
