TACLOBAN CITY — Amid continuing fluctuations in fuel prices, the provincial government of Leyte has launched a digital platform that allows the public to easily check and compare pump prices across different areas in the province.
Dubbed the QGas application, the system is part of Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla’s initiative to improve transparency and help motorists make informed decisions as fuel costs remain unpredictable.
To support the rollout, municipal agriculturists and agricultural extension workers (AEWs) underwent orientation and mobile device whitelisting, equipping them to collect and upload fuel price data from gasoline stations in their respective localities.
Provincial Administrator Corazon Alvero underscored the importance of their role, noting that accurate and timely data collection is crucial in ensuring the platform’s effectiveness, especially as communities continue to feel the impact of rising fuel prices.
Claire Maderazo, head of the province’s special projects office, said the application directly addresses concerns over fuel price volatility by providing real-time updates per municipality. This, she added, empowers consumers with reliable information and promotes fair pricing practices.
Under the system, AEWs will regularly gather fuel price data, which will then be synchronized with a central database and published through the official website of the provincial government of Leyte, making it accessible to the public.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
