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GMA orders DOE to keep
LPG prices in check
PRESIDENT Arroyo ordered Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to exercise his regulatory and visitorial powers to ensure that the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and lubricants are not raised unnecessarily.
Arroyo said that because of the Oil Deregulation Law, only a suggested retail price could be imposed on LPG.
She ordered Reyes and Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera to monitor the prices of all petroleum products and to intensify their investigation and prosecution of violations of the Oil Deregulation Law (RA 8479).
Devanadera said section 14(e), Chapter 4, RA 8479 provides that the energy department, "in times of national emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it may temporarily take over or direct the operations of any person or entity engaged in the industry.
"So there is a regulatory power as far as DOE is concerned and what do we have is a state of calamity resulting in an emergency situation...We have heard of the provision but not yet tried it," she said.
She said the DOJ and DOE will investigate the price increase Pilipinas Shell implemented on its products on the same day the joint energy and justice task force was talking to the oil players. "I felt very disappointed," Devanadera said.
During the said consultation, she said the oil companies committed to ensure that prices would remain reasonable and that supply would be available. She said the oil firms also said they will not pass on to the consumers the additional cost of bringing their products to hard-to-reach areas. – Regina Bengco
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