Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) will intensify monitoring of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) retailers to curb profiteering as supply tightens. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the move is meant to shield consumers from artificial price increases during the current energy crunch. 'I have directed our local police to heighten monitoring of retailers to prevent hoarding and price manipulation of LPG amid the present energy challenges that we are facing,' he said in a statement Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Nartatez added that police are coordinating with local government units and relevant agencies to prevent hoarding and profiteering. He also vowed that appropriate charges will be filed against erring retailers. 'While the national government is exhausting all measures to help, we in the PNP will also make sure that consumers are always protected,' he said.
The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier warned that LPG supply could last only up to 24 days, including incoming deliveries. DOE data as of March 20 showed the country has sufficient stocks of gasoline and diesel based on average daily use, but LPG remains the most constrained. LPG prices in Metro Manila this month range from PHP825 to more than PHP1,000 per regular tank, according to the DOE.
Meanwhile, in a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tua±o said the number of fuel hoarding and profiteering incidents reported to authorities has climbed to five. Citing PNP data, Tua±o said these reports were logged at Barangay Garden in Arteche, Eastern Samar; Barangay Maipon in Guinobatan, Albay; Barangay Tan-awan in Placer, Masbate; Llorente, Eastern Samar; and Barangay Tagabuli in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. Hoarding and profiteering are penalized by Batas Pambansa No. 33 and Presidential Decree No. 1865.
Tua±o also said based on PNP monitoring, 425 of the country's 14,485 gas stations have temporarily closed due to supply constraints as of Friday. The closures occurred amid constrained oil supplies caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
