𝐁𝐌 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐎 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐌 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒, 𝐏𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
Cebu Provincial Board Member, Dr. Stanley Caminero, called for urgent and unified action as rising fuel prices escalate into a “provincial crisis” affecting transport, livelihoods, and essential services across Cebu.
In a privilege speech during the Provincial Board’s regular session on Monday, April 6, Caminero said surging fuel costs reaching up to ₱144.80 per liter for diesel and over ₱100 for gasoline have triggered a chain reaction of higher transportation fares, increased food prices, and mounting cost-of-living pressures for Cebuano families.
“As an island province heavily reliant on inter-island shipping and fuel-dependent logistics, Cebu experiences amplified impacts across the entire supply chain,” Caminero said, noting that the burden extends from farmers and transporters to consumers and even access to healthcare.
Caminero, who chairs the Committees on Energy, Environment, Health, and Social Services, also highlighted the country’s structural vulnerability, citing the Philippines’ higher fuel prices and heavy dependence on petroleum compared to neighboring Southeast Asian countries with subsidies and alternative energy sources.
To address long-term challenges, he underscored the need to fully implement Republic Act No. 11697, promoting transport electrification as a strategic solution to reduce fuel dependence. However, he stressed that modernization must be inclusive, raising concerns over possible inequities in franchise processing between traditional operators and new entrants in the electric vehicle sector.
Caminero proposed adopting a resolution inviting the Department of Energy Region VII and the Office of the Governor to present comprehensive data on Cebu’s energy mix, fuel dependence, mitigation measures, and the implementation of the law, including concerns on franchise equity.
He also recommended holding a separate session with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to address franchise processing issues and ensure a fair and inclusive transition for transport operators. 𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶
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