House Speaker hits new oil price hike

MANILA, Philippines - Calling it "the highest form of ingratitude," House Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday scored the decision of Shell and Petron to increase their fuel prices anew even as the Philippines is still reeling from the massive devastation caused by recent typhoons.

"This is not the time for ingratitude," Nograles said as he strongly appealed to the giant oil companies to "spare the people from bleeding."

Nograles said this decision to increase today prices for unleaded premium gasoline by P1.25 per liter, regular gasoline by P0.85 per liter, diesel by P2 per liter, and kerosene by P1.50 per liter is reflective of their insensitivity and lack of compassion for the millions of patrons whose lives are now in ruins because of the typhoons.

"This is really infuriating. While people around the world are trying their best to help us recover from the devastation caused by the typhoons, our own oil companies still have the nerve to increase their prices. This is the highest point of ingratitude," Nograles said.

Nograles also questioned the Department of Energy's inaction as he noted that the agency could have at least appealed to the two oil firms to defer the price increases until after the country has returned to a decent level of normalcy.

"Secretary Angelo Reyes could have at least called up these oil companies and appealed for compassion. Millions of people have lost their homes and are largely dependent on whatever support that is given to them by others. This makes me wonder if the Department of Energy is still part of the government," Nograles said.

Reyes is the Secretary of the Department of Energy. (Gil Bugaoisan)