DTI reminds supermarkets to not stray far from SRP; transport groups bewail rate hikes of utilities

This week's fuel price hikes locally following some recovery in world oil prices overseas spurred the Department of Trade and Industry to remind supermarkets to adhere to suggested retail prices and made transport groups oppose a petition to bring down bus fares.

 

DTI Undersecretary Victorio Dimagiba said the latest fuel price increases should not have immediate effects on retail prices in supermarkets considering that in previous weeks the price rollbacks at the gas pumps were very significant.

 

Dimagiba gave his assessment after DTI inspections of over 60 supermarkets found that 16 supermarkets were selling some products at rate higher that the suggested retail prices.

 

"Sa atin pong computation malaki pa po ang ibinaba ng mga presyong ito at wala pong dahilan na ipasa agad ito sa ating mga consumer," Dimagiba said.

 

Meanwhile. The Provincial Bus Association of the Philippines and Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association filed a joint opposition against a petition to lower bus fares filed in December last year by Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The LTFRB said it will look into the petition.

 

Jeepney transport groups protested this week's fuel price hikes and increases in rates for electricity and water services.

 

"Ang masakit pamasahe lang namin yung ibinaba ng gobyerno, pero ang presyo ng bilihin, mga serbisyo gaya ng tubig, kuryente, ay patuloy naman na tumataas," Piston president George San Mateo said.

 

Customers of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will see their electricity bills up by P0.84 kilowatt hour (kWh) this month on higher charges and the added cost of renewable energy (RE) used under the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme.

 

Maynilad Water Services Inc. will implement starting this year an increase in its water rates.

 

The Appeals Panel, led by the International Chamber of Commerce, upheld in January, the alternative rebasing adjustment of Maynilad in a decision on December 29, 2014.

 

According to the decision of the arbitration panel, P3.33 per cubic meter will be Maynilad's rate hike which will be staggered in three years or P1.11 per year from 2015 to  2017.

 

Maynilad is seeking an additional P2.50 increase in water rates.

 

"Hanggang ngayon pinag-aantay na naman kami feeling talaga namin medyo sagad na sagad na itong pagbibigay na aming ginagawa," Maynilad chief financial officer Randy Estrellado said.

 

Maynilad warned that the planned hike may increase further with the postponement of its implementation.

 

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System said it will wait for the decision of the arbitration panel on Manila Water's petition so that rate hikes will be implemented simultaneously.  — Kathryn Mae Tubadeza/ELR, GMA News