To counter high prices; Bohol LGU urged to put up, operate gas stations

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Bohol Provincial Board Member Tomas Abapo Jr. formally proposed that the provincial government establish and operate gas stations to counter sky-rocketing pump prices of petroleum products in the province, believed to be controlled by a cartel.

In his privilege speech in last Friday’s session, Abapo cited the unresolved prices of fuel in Bohol that are higher than those in other provinces in the Visayas.

Abapo later was able to convince his colleagues in the PB to approve two resolutions he introduced to ease the burden of fuel consumers here.

Without dissent from his peers, the PB that Friday approved first a resolution urging the governor “to direct the Provincial Economic Enterprises and Management Unit (PEEMU)—a newly created unit—the Provincial Legal Office, and the Provincial Internal Audit Office to conduct a feasibility study on the legality and financial feasibility of setting up of Capitol-owned gas stations” in Tagbilaran City and around the province.

The PB also approved later a resolution requesting the congressmen of the province “to pass a bill (in Congress) regulating the nation’s petroleum industry and to provide funds to stabilize oil prices.”

Copies of the approved resolutions would be furnished to all PBs in the country, the House Speaker, and the Senate President, the PB said.

Abapo cited the Local Government Code of 1991 stipulating that a province “can enter into a business enterprise,” thus he suggested: “Why don’t we set up our own gas stations and sell at lower prices and still gain.”

He proposed to start first with at least five gas stations — two in Tagbilaran and one in each of the three provincial districts. These gas stations will have an outright or what he called as “built-in” customers such as the Capitol’s offices and departments themselves.

But this has to be studied and a feasibility study “will be in order,” Abapo said. “More importantly, we sell gas to the public at lower prices at par with other provinces,” he said, as he reminded his colleagues: “We are here not as masters but as public servants.”

In urging the three Bohol congressional representatives, Abapo said that an act of Congress (House and Senate) could ensure stable oil prices, citing the then president Ferdinand Marcos who issued a presidential decree establishing the oil prices stabilization fund (OPSF) aimed as a buffer fund subsidy that would offset any hike in prices in the market.

Abapo lamented over the prevailing high pump rates of petrol products, such as diesel and gasoline, sold in Bohol while prices in other places, such as in Dumaguete City of Negros Oriental, are very low. He said he could not understand the reason why this is happening.

“Our constituents (in Bohol) are suffering and they’re asking for help. It’s time for the provincial government to do something,” Abapo added. (BANAT NEWS)