TACLOBAN CITY — House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan is calling on government agencies to intensify monitoring and enforcement against what he described as unjustified increases in petroleum product prices amid volatile global oil markets.
Libanan said the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) still have sufficient powers under the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Law of 1998 to investigate and act on possible overpricing through their joint DOE–DOJ Task Force.
“Consumer protection must be paramount. Filipino families should not be made to bear the burden of unjustified fuel price increases, especially when global oil prices are already easing,” he said.
Libanan stressed that the task force was created to look into complaints of excessive pricing, investigate possible collusion, and initiate legal action when necessary, especially in light of what he described as a continuing state of energy price volatility.
Libanan also cited Republic Act No. 8479, which mandates the task force to immediately act on reports of unreasonable fuel price increases and complete assessments within 30 days, while also allowing it to conduct investigations motu proprio.
The lawmaker raised concerns over alleged overpricing and possible collusion among industry players, as global oil prices recently fluctuated—peaking at around $120 per barrel before easing to about $90 per barrel in mid-April.
He said stronger enforcement is needed to ensure transparency in pricing and protect consumers from unfair fuel costs.
(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
