City pursues plan to build oil depot

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the city government is to pursue its plan to establish a fuel depot at the South Road Properties (SRP) which will provide low-priced fuel for the motorists.

Rama said he welcomes any program that can help the people who are currently suffering from the steady rise of the fuel prices. The mayor, though, expressed optimism that the rising cost of fuel prices is only temporary.

He said he believes that the administration of incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. will be able to address this problem.

“Let’s all be positive. Let’s all be dynamic. Let’s all be thankful for being alive and I’m pretty sure that we (will) end up victorious in the days, in the months, in the years to come. I am pretty sure, we will end up victorious in the days, in the months, in the years to come under BBM and Sara, with the new Senate, with the vibrant Congress,” said Rama.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Gerry Carillo, chairperson of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said that if the city government will have the fuel depot, it will have the capability to purchase in bulk.

“Actually, cheaper siya, ihatag ra nila sa syudad P50 to P60, in that way, maka offer ang city og barato,” said Carillo.

Carillo said that the city's depot will also offer government-subsidized fuel to the public at a lower cost.

To ensure that the city’s plan will be implemented, he said the city government is now in the process of talking to fuel industry players and the Department of Energy (DOE).

The mayor is also open to the possibility of releasing more gasoline discount cards to drivers of public utility vehicles, tricycles, and habal-habals plying the city roads.

“Any program will be welcome if this fuel card matter, and why not? I will sit down with the fuel (company), especially the gasoline company that allowed the discount card,” said Rama.

Last April, the city government started its distribution of fuel discount cards to cushion the effect of the skyrocketing prices of fuel.

The discount card entitles PUV drivers a minimum of P2 to as much as P4 off per liter of fuel depending on the existing price range.

 A driver can refuel to a maximum of 20 liters per day and this continues until the fuel prices are stabilized. — FPL (FREEMAN)