Gasoline hits P80 per liter in Puerto Princesa

The cost  of petroleum products in the country has gotten so high that the price of gasoline has reached P80 per liter in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

According to Bernadette Reyes' report on "24 Oras", the price per liter of diesel also hit P66 per liter.

"Palawan is an island ano, province 'di ba? So siyempre 'yong pagta-transport, 'yong distribution cost, 'yong handling cost, hindi mo naman puwedeng isakay 'yong mga petroleum product sa isang commercial na tanker 'di ba?" Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau assistant director Rodela Romero said.

"So may premium talaga 'yong transportation cost kasi 'yon nga, ibang produkto ito, hazardous, flammable," she added.

"'Yong mga matataas, maaaring wala silang kakumpitensiya doon sa particular area. That's part of cost of doing business,"Romero said.

"Ibig sabihin, mahal 'yong operating cost nila, maaaring sa renta, maaaring sa manpower, maaaring sa mga utilities, depende sa services na kanilang pino-provide," she added.

Oil firms on Monday announced increases in the price per liter of petroleum products, with gasoline already up by nearly P8 and diesel by over P10 per liter so far this year.

It was the eighth straight week that fuel costs have increased.

In separate advisories, Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex), Flying V, Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and Seaoil Philippines Inc. said they will hike prices per liter of gasoline by P0.80, diesel by P0.65, and kerosene by P0.45. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News