• CHERYL G. CRUZ
There will be mixed movements in the pump prices of petroleum products, effective tomorrow, May 19, with per-liter increases in diesel and gasoline, and a continuing rollback for kerosene.
Oil companies announced over the weekend that diesel will increase by P2.90 to P3.20/L and gasoline by P1 to P1.40/L, while kerosene will decrease by P1.50 to P1.70/L.
This will be the fourth straight week of price hikes for gasoline, and the sixth consecutive week of rollbacks for kerosene. Exact adjustments will be known today, May 18.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy said May 17 that it is rolling out the sale of government-procured diesel to help ensure continuous and affordable electricity in missionary areas and remote communities served by the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG), including Siquijor in the Negros Island Region.
Under the government’s Emergency Energy Security Program, the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) will sell up to 45 million liters of diesel at P80 per liter over the next three months to new power providers (NPPs) and microgrid system providers (MGSPs) operating in off-grid areas.
The initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted and affordable electricity in provinces, like Siquijor, Masbate, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, and Catanduanes, as well as other island-communities where electricity supply remains largely dependent on diesel generation, the ERC said. | CGC
