Maza Pushes HB 1126 to Regulate the Price of LPG, Hits GMA's Son for Delaying its Passage

Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Party today joined mothers and women in protesting the increase in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and called on House Committee on Energy Chairperson Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo to act on House Bill 1126 filed by the Gabriela solon in 2007 to include LPG and kerosene in the list of basic commodities.

“It is officially the start of the ‘ber months (September-December) but to mothers and women, this means added burden as it marks the round after round of increases in the prices of commodities especially LPG. As long as the government does not regulate this, we will always be at the mercy of giant oil companies and LPG dealers,” Maza said.

In July 2007, Maza filed House Bill 1126 or an Act to include Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and kerosene in the list of basic necessities provided by the Price Act or RA 7581 to give relief to the grievances of the consumers especially the marginalized women and their families. Up to now, the status of HB 1126 is still pending before the Committee on Energy.

“If LPG and kerosene will be included in the list of basic necessities, the government can provide effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to the supply, distribution, marketing and pricing of said goods as provided in the Declaration of Policy of the Price Act. The DTI, for example, can monitor the pricing, develop, adopt and promulgate measures to stabilize prices at reasonable levels for the benefit of millions of households,” Maza said.

“Matagal na nating inihain ang panukalang ito ngunit mukhang inuupuan lamang  ito ng mismong Chairperson ng Committee on Energy na si Cong.Mikey Arroyo,” Maza stressed.

Maza recalled that in 2001, the price of an 11-kilogram cylinder LPG was only about P197. Now, the price of an 11-kilogram LPG tank ranges from P497- P575.  The cooking gas price was again raised to P4 per kilo or P44 per 11-kilogram tank yesterday. She also cited the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) Household Energy Consumption Survey (HECS) in 2004 that showed 52%or 8.6 million households used LPG, 56% or 9.4 million households utilized kerosene.

Gabriela Reps. Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan have likewise co-authored HB 1724 to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law. ###