Senatorial bet Jinggoy Estrada on Monday, February 7 called on all local government units to conduct regular inspection and calibration of all gasoline pumps and calibrate all gasoline pumps to protect motorists, especially jeepney and tricycle drivers, from being shortchanged by station operators, whether purposely or not.
Estrada aired the appeal as oil companies are set to implement this week another “big time” hike in prices of petroleum products. Prices will record an all time high in the country.
“As our countrymen face an unabated surge in fuel prices, the least that we can do is to make sure motorists, especially operators and drivers of public utility vehicles, are not being cheated by defective and fraudulent gasoline pumps,” said Estrada, whose senatorial bid has drawn the support of UniTeam tandem of presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte.
“Dapat ipasara agad at ipakulong ang mga nandadaya. Kuba na nga ang mga mamamayan dahil sa linggo-linggong pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, gusto pa ng mga mandarambong na lumpuhin ang mga Pinoy. (Padlock and arrest those cheating. Our countrymen have been suffering from the weekly rise in fuel prices, but these plunderers are bent at making Filipinos suffer more),” the former senator said.
Estrada said LGUs are authorized to inspect gas stations and make guarantees that all operating fuel pumps are accurate and do not shortchange motorists. He recalled that in 2004, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum to all LGUs to visit all gasoline stations and ensure that their pumps are working properly.
Issued by then DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes, the memorandum also enjoined local executives to immediately close down stations that use fraudulent pumps and file criminal charges against operators.
Estrada noted that while a number of LGUs are already inspecting gasoline stations, this is only done quarterly. “LGUs should conduct inspections more often, say once every month, to reduce opportunities for fraud. Surprise inspections may also be considered to further guarantee that we are getting the right amount of fuel for our hard earned money,” he stressed.
The senatorial aspirant also urged drivers to be alert while filling up. Estrada said farmers, taxi and jeepney drivers are particularly close to his heart after spending much time with them while playing the role in previous movies.
Even his father, former President Joseph Estrada, played starring roles as a jeepney driver in blockbuster movies. His Jeep ni Erap was his vehicle towards landslide election victory in 1998.