The Provincial Board (PB) has again launched an investigation on the marked difference of pump prices of petroleum products in Bohol particularly Tagbilaran City compared with those of other provinces.

Board Member Tomas Abapo Jr. in his privilege speech during the PB’s regular session on Friday said that a concerned citizen recently raised the issue pointing out at least P3.00 per liter difference between fuel prices in Tagbilaran City and neighboring Dumaguete City.

Jose Cagas, a resident of Booy, Tagbilaran City reported that diesel prices in Dumaguete City were at P29.70 per liter while it was being sold for P33.70 per liter in Tagbilaran City on June 4.

Meanwhile, unleaded gasoline in Dumaguete was at P38.92 per liter and P41.82 perliter in Tagbilaran City, marking a P-3.00 difference during the same day.

The PB’s inquiry was prompted due to the marked difference in fuel prices in both cities which are near each other.

Abapo noted that the subject was already investigated last year by the PB but noted that another probe is again needed to resolve the issue.

The new investigation would have been led by the PB’s committee on Trade and Industry chaired by Board Member Niño Rey Boniel.

However, Boniel’s absence due to the ongoing investigation on the alleged murder of the legislator’s wife has prompted the PB to task the newly created Ad Hoc committee to conduct the probe.

Board Member Alexie Tutor who is the trade and industry committee’s vice chair was supposed to replace Boniel in leading the probe but she inhibited due to her ownership of a gasoline station.

The newly formed Ad Hoc committee is comprised of three lawyer PB members namely Board Members Venzencio Arcamo who was tasked to lead the group, Abeleon Damalerio and Elpidio Jala. (Rey Tutas)