Private and public vehicles formed long queues at some gasoline stations in Antipolo City on Monday afternoon, March 14, several hours prior to fuel firms' imposition of up to double-digit price hikes.
Traffic enforcers had to direct traffic around P. Oliveros Street in Antipolo City, where the Flying V Gas Station is located, as the queuing of private vehicles and public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as jeepneys and tricycles that were refueling obstructed at a portion of the road that leads to the National Shrine of the Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Cathedral).
An attendant at the gas station told Manila Bulletin that petroleum prices at their gas station are comparatively lower by P4 to P8 per liter for diesel and P5 to P6 cheaper for unleaded and regular gasoline as against other petroleum sellers in the city and nearby towns in Rizal Province on March 14.
Several tricycle drivers said the price of fuel at the Flying V gasoline station was indeed lower compared with other gasoline stations that are located in the city proper.
The gasoline station, however, stopped selling unleaded gasoline at around 5:30 p.m., but the gas attendant did not state the reason, saying he was just following orders from his superior.
On March 13, Petro Gazz on J.P. Rizal Street in Antipolo City was selling a liter of diesel at P55.20; premium gasoline at P58.80; and unleaded gasoline at P58.30, resulting in a long line of vehicles along the street.
However, on March 14, the fuel station increased its prices from almost P4.00 to almost P6.00.
A tricycle driver told Manila Bulletin that when Petro Gazz implemented the rollback on March 10, most of his co-drivers trooped to the gasoline station very early in the morning to refuel.
At the nearby gasoline stations, the price of a liter of gasoline was between P65.80 to P70.50 as of 6 p.m. on March 14.
Most oil companies announced earlier that they would increase gasoline prices by P7.10 per liter for gasoline and P13.15 per liter for diesel on March 15.