Due to the incessant public clamour on the high price of fuel and oil products in Tagbilaran, City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, presiding officer of the 14th Sangguniang Panlungsod, invited owners and/or managers of the gasoline stations in Tagbilaran City and other adjacent towns to provide their explanations during the first regular session of the 14th Sangguniang Panlunsgod for the year 2021. Among those invited Mr. Servando “Butch” Abaya, Jr., Bohol JL Distribution Systems, Inc., Mr. Angelo Racho, Petron Service Station, Mr. Danilo Abellana, Bohol Prov’l. Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Ms. Anadelyn Estoque, SHELL Depot Supervisor, Mr. Rico Trinidad, Shell Retail Manager, Mr. Fredison Ingles, Florencio Caltex Station and Ms. Hydie Owens, Sailor Oil MBC Corporation of Mariveles, Dauis, Bohol were able to join the session. Representatives from the “Big Three“ gas stations reiterate that their prices are market-driven and are mandated by their mother companies. They only have a P2.50- P3.00 profit margin while “White Stations” or gasoline stations selling generic fuel products have as much as P20.00 profit margin, hence these stations can lower their prices as much as P9.00 and still have a profit of P11.00. They also emphasize that they adhere to these following requirements, 1. Secure Certificate of Compliance; 2. DOE pump calibration testing per nozzle and 3. they sell treated fuels that have 10% ethanol and high-grade additives. Although it is not in the power of the 14th Sangguniang Panlungsod to regulate the oil prices of the gas stations in the city, they promised to further investigate this matter by referring this to the Committee on Energy, headed by Hon. Agalon Polinar along with committee members, Hon. Pepot Besas, Hon. Jojo Bompat, Hon. Ondoy Borja and Hon. Jonas Cacho.
