Senator JV Ejercito slammed the ‘triple whammy’ price hike of diesel, liquefied petroleum gas and electricity that will heave additional burden to Filipinos this holiday season.
The minority senator protested the December jump in expenses, saying “It is unfortunate that the ‘Pamaskong Handog’ of oil and power companies to consumers is a hefty price hike and not extending benevolence to Pinoys.”
Ejercito urged the public to assert their consumer rights by refusing to shoulder the maintenance expenses being passed on to them by energy distributors. “We should remain vigilant and firm against the skyrocketing costs these companies impose on their products,” he said.
Senator Ejercito made this statement after oil companies announced that LPG, gas and diesel have increased its price by P14.30 per liter (except in Bohol, Aklan, Leyte and Samar), P0.50 per liter and P1.35 per liter respectively.
Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has also alerted consumers that power rates will soar by P3 per kilowatt this month. This means a household that consumes 200 kilowatts will have P600 billing surcharge.
The average price of petroleum products are P940 per tank for LPG, P44.50 per liter for diesel and P54 per liter for gasoline.
Reasons cited for the extra charges were adjustments with the high crude value in the world market due to winter, the use of liquefied fuel by the Sta. Rita and Ilihan plants which is costlier than natural gas, and the maintenance of the Malampaya facility until December 10.
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PRESS RELEASE
Reference: Rikki Mathay
