By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY – The city government is very alarmed about the sky-high prices of fuel products in the summer capital as a “serious problem” that the Department of Energy (DOE) must immediately find a solution to.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file/MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Mauricio Domogan lamented the fact that the price of fuel like gasoline and diesel here is higher than in the rest of the country. He expressed his disappointment over the DOE’s written explanation on the disparity that this was due to the distance in transporting fuel to the city.
In Wednesday’s Ugnayan with the Mayor at City Hall, he pointed out that if this were so, then why are fuel prices in the neighboring towns of La Trinidad and Buguias in Benguet lower than in Baguio, according to reports reaching his office.
Domogan earlier asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to do something about the matter but the latter responded that it is only the DOE that has authority on fuel prices.
He disclosed that he is now waiting for the DTI’s monitoring report so that he can write a letter to the DOE based on the DTI’s findings of fuel prices in the city.
Domogan said he will also strongly urge the DOE to send its personnel to Baguio and see for themselves the situation and really find out the reason why fuel prices are more expensive here than in other places.
Domogan is also asking for community support and unity in demanding that the DOE explain the “unfair” disparity in fuel prices and immediately alleviate this serious
problem faced by Baguio residents.