Press Release
September 15, 2013

Poe asks Senate to probe disparity in oil prices across the country

Senator Grace Poe has filed a resolution urging the Senate to probe the reported huge disparities in the prices of gasoline and other petroleum products across the country.

Poe said there is a need to look into the issues of price manipulation, cartelization, monopoly and similar anti-competition behaviors of some oil companies.

"We want to put in place corrective mechanisms to address these serious issues that can adversely impact on our goal of inclusive growth for the country," Poe stressed.

The senator cited that in Negros Occidental, the prices of petroleum products are P5 higher than in Metro Manila.

Poe's Senate Resolution No. 104 also urges the Senate committee on energy and other appropriate committees to review Republic Act 8479 or the 1998 Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act.

The senator filed the resolution following a series of price adjustments in petroleum products imposed by oil companies from June to August this year for at least eight times.

Poe stressed that the Constitution mandates that the "State should promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living and an improved quality of life for all."

The existing deregulation law bars the Department of Energy from meddling with the pricing and export and importation of oil products, including the establishment of retail outlets, storage depots, ocean-receiving facilities and refineries.

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