TRANSPORT GROUPS SUPPORT ROXAS CALL FOR P25 OIL

Transport groups are supporting Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas' call for fair pricing of local diesel and unleaded gasoline, which he has said should cost P10 less per liter.

The transport group PISTON (Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide) and the Confederation of FX/AUV Operators and Drivers that led an FX drivers' strike recently said Roxas should pursue his call for a big rollback in prices of oil and diesel as "the oil companies have long profited from the misery of Filipinos."

"Alam ko na bumaba ang presyo ng gasolina - tingi-tingi nga lang. Huwag pa natin silang pasalamatan, dahil may karapatan sila para sa higit pang mas mababang presyo," he said.

"Malinaw na malinaw, sa simpleng aritmetik, ay dapat talagang mas mababa ng P10 kada litro ang presyo ng diesel at unleaded. Kung ang krudo na nga ay bumaba ng higit pa sa 60%, dapat ganyan din sa gasolina," he added.

He said that if diesel dropped at the same rate as crude oil since July, it would cost P21.83-P23.90/L, instead of its present P35.96/L level. Unleaded gasoline, on the other hand, should have likewise dropped to P22.40-P24.53/L level, instead of its present P35.94/L level. This makes a P25/L price for both diesel and unleaded possible.

"Kung anu-ano pa ang sinasabi nitong mga oil companies para ipaliwanag ang pandurugas nila, pero hindi naman nila ito pinapakita sa amin o sa Department of Energy, na inatasang siguraduhin na hindi pinagsasamantalahan ang ating kababayan," he said.

The Ilonggo senator urged other transport groups to come out and express their support for the affordable oil prices that they deserve..