BAGUIO CITY—The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-North Luzon Area has challenged the Department of Energy to conduct an investigation into the “excessive” retail prices of oil in Baguio and Benguet, as compared to prices in the lowlands.
The group said diesel prices in Baguio and Benguet range from P23 to P24 per liter; gasoline is priced between P43 and P44.
In the lowlands, retail prices are P18 to P19 and P38 to P39, excessively.
The chamber added that the P5-per-liter difference in the retail prices of diesel and gasoline in Baguio and Benguet and the lowlands is misleading because it does not take that much to ferry the oil products from the depots up to the gas stations.
According to the group, all oil companies have their own delivery trucks bringing their products up to the different stations in Baguio and Benguet. Thus, transport costs cannot be that high.
The group said concerned agencies must do something about the excessive prices because the people do not enjoy the subsequent decline in the oil prices in the world market.
“It would be unfair for local consumers to be deprived the benefits of much lower oil prices,” the group added.
The group called on concerned government agencies and consumer groups get their act together to exert pressure on oil companies to bring down the prices of oil.