Why Fuel is higher by P4-P6 per liter when Negros Occ. is close to BATANGAS ...

If anyone knows the e-mail address of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Vice President for External Affairs Jose Maria Zayco - please, pass on... the blog below. To think Batangas enjoys cheaper fuel is the funniest thing we have ever heard.

DOE to probe higher gas prices in Bacolod

PIA Press Release 2009/10/27

Bacolod City (27 October) -- Investigation in underway on the observed higher gasoline prices in Bacolod City after a resolution authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. was submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) for appropriate action.

In his reply, DOE Undersecretary Roy Kyamco said that since the Republic Act 8479 or the "Downstream Oil Industry Defegulation Act of 1998" was imposed, the prices gasoline and crude oil products were based on supply and demand and the price of crude oil in the international market.

He said the law has liberalized the downstream oil industry that promoted market competition " wherein the prices of petroleum products are governed and influenced by several factors/indicators such as the crude oil in he international market, the foreign exchange rate, spot prices and the interplay of market forces /conditions in a particular trading area."

"It is for this reason that prices may vary across locations as these are dictated by the market," Kyamko added.

He has endorsed the issue to concerned oil companies operating in the area of Bacolod City requesting asking them to submit written explanations on the price situation of oil here.

"Also we have directed our director for the Visayas field Office, Engr. Antonio Labios, to conduct a thorough assessment and evaluation of the price situation in your area," he said.

The gas price issue was spurred when Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Vice President for External Affairs Jose Maria Zayco questioned the fuel prices in Bacolod as being higher by P4-P6 per liter when Negros Occ. is close to Batangas where most companies get their fuel supply.

Surprisingly, gas prices in some cities in Mindanao are cheaper compared to Bacolod. (PIA-LOL)

OUR BLOG in September of 2009

During the BPCCI Meeting held at the Hotel La Corona de Lipa this Sept. 17, 2009, one of the issues raised is the hiGHHH price of gasoline and fuels in the vicinity of Batangas City.

This prompted me to look at the receipts BPCCI has on file and this is what we found. In Batangas City Petron Station last Sept. 12, 2009 the price for XCS is P45.64 per liter, while on the same day at the Rico Shell Station in Lipa City, it is priced at 41.00 per liter, and in Metro Manila it is around P38.00 to P39.00 --- Php4.64 difference from Batangas to Lipa City.

On Sept. 6, 2009 at the Diversion Petron Station, it is 46.62 per liter. Oct. 8, 2009 at the Shell Station, Unleaded was 44.520 per liter. Bauan Petron on August 2, 2009 it was 43.45 per liter. On Aug. 16, 2009 at San Pascual Caltex, Silver was 46.550 per liter. August 19 at the Shell Station, Unleaded was 46.55 per liter. All these when prevailing prices in Metro Manila was way below P40.00.

It is a supply-and-demand economy anyway. What we, and we found out that so many of our friends have been doing, during the last few months is gas up just enough to get to Lipa or to Turbina / Calamba to save P5.00 per liter, gas up enough there to get to Manila or Makati to save another P2.00 or more per litter and fill her up where it is much cheaper. Maybe the Batangas City stations haven't noticed their diminishing sales yet.

Anyway, the issue has been officially raised. I am here to let you know what is happening. The action belongs, really to the people.

NEWEST Update: After raising the question, in late September - we gassed up in Batangas City and it was P41.00 . Quite an improvement from P45-46.00. We gassed up October 27, 2009 at 14:00 in Lipa City and it was P39.25 per liter for SilverTechron.

What says you? Bacolod?

Links for Voting online for Filipino Efren Pe�aflorida for CNN "Hero of the Year"

Vote online for Filipino Efren Pe�aflorida for CNN
"Hero of the Year"

Each year, CNN gives $100,000 to the winner (from a field of ten finalists--- winnowed from 9,000 nominees from all over the world) of its "Hero of the Year" award. This year, a 28-year-old Filipino, Efren Pe�aflorida, made it to the top ten. (A panel of 12 well-known personalities from various fields picked the finalists. Colin Powell was among the judges this year). If Efren wins this year's award (based on how many votes he gets, which will depend on us), he will be able to expand his mobile school program for the children of the slums in the Philippines. What this young man is doing to improve the lives of the kids in the slums is truly inspiring. Here's the link to Efren's story and his Dynamic Teen Company (the organization he founded). You can vote for Efren by clicking on the link found in the article. http://edition. cnn.com/2009/ LIVING/wayoflife /03/05/heroes. efren.penaflorid a/index.html Voting is open between now and Nov. 19. CNN will announce the winner and give out the award at a star-studded show on Thanksgiving night in L.A. at the Kodiak Theater (same venue for the Oscars). So, let's all help Efren win so that he will, in turn, be able to help more impoverished kids. The more votes Efren gets, the greater his chances of winning the "Hero of the Year" award and the $100K. It will take less than a minute to click a button to cast your vote. Let's all help Efren continue to make a difference in those slum kids' lives. Without his mobile school and his group of volunteers, those kids will probably never have a chance to set foot in a real school and learn their ABCs. Let's all vote for Efren! Please don't forget to pass this on to everybody you know---Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike----so more people can vote for this young man with an extra big heart. Thanks!!

To vote for him just click on the link below:
http://www.cnn. com/SPECIALS/ cnn.heroes/ vote/

Concidence? Karma? Take a Closer Look at the recent calamities

SOME Friends of ours has been discussing the recent disasters and calamities -- and we have noticed some pattern. Everytime some Congressman, or High Official get embroiled in a scandal, profited from some blown-up deals, his kababayans - locality is visited by a great calamity. Look back at the news reports and records for at least 8 years. If it's Karma... it's not the official who is affected !!! It is his constituents that suffer. Maybe it's our wake up call. Don't let our Officials do this to us.

These days... it's always the North being affected. I found some relevant items.

"While we are trying to help our country and kababayan, the hardened corrupt politicians in our country are selling what little natural resources we have to
foreigners, making it harder for our countrymen to live. Please read what is happening in many parts of the Philippines and in our beloved province, Cagayan Valley.

South Koreans illegally mining beaches
By Neal Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:27:00 05/31/2009

You have already heard what the South Koreans have done in our country, in particular at the Subic Bay Free trade Zone and on Volcano Island in Taal, Batangas. They built a high-rise residential condominium in the middle of a forest reserved and tried to raze a mini-forest long the pier area to build a hotel-casino in Subic. They succeeded in the forest but were blocked in the second by a Filipino architect trying to save our environment.

In Taal, they almost succeeded in putting up a hot springs spa at the foot of Taal volcano itself, with the approval of the mayor but without an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They had almost finished construction when the people woke up to what they were doing and protested. So the national government stepped in and construction was stopped.

Now listen to what the South Koreans are doing in the
northernmost tip of Cagayan, home province of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Six coastal municipalities of Cagayan have miles and miles of beaches that attract tourists. Foreign and domestic tourists like the beaches because of their color. No, they are not white like that of Boracay but the opposite color: black.

Although the sands are not white, they are more valuable than the snow-white sands of Boracay. It is because the black sand is 70 percent composed of magnetite, a mineral used in the smelting of iron ore into steel. It is what the South Koreans are lusting after, the newly industrialized country being hungry for steel. They have been digging up the beaches and shipping away the black sand. They have already made a wasteland of the beaches of five municipalities. Without a beachfront to hold back the sea, salt water has invaded the farms and made them unproductive.

They have started mining the beach of a sixth municipality, Buguey, at Barangay Minanga Este, but the mayor, Ignacio M. Taruc, and the municipal council stopped them.

Koreans and their agents made many visits to Mayor Taruc to ask for a mining permit but the latter refused. The municipal government vigorously opposed any form of mining on its beaches as it would mar its pristine beauty and pose a danger to its farmlands. The council passed a resolution objecting to the mining of black sand and other minerals along the coastal areas of Buguey as we believe that this is destructive not only to the environment but also poses a danger to the safety and security of the people and the loss of their livelihood due to the entry of seawater into their farms.

Apparently, the governor, Alvaro T. Antonio, was not able to resist the persuasive powers of the Koreans In spite of the opposition of the people of Buguey, he issued a permit to mine its beaches of black sand, but it was in the name of a political ally, one Renato Alariao, a former member of the municipal council, although it was being used by the Korean company, Jisan
Mining Corp.

Governor Antonio did not reply even as Mayor Taruc refused to issue a mayor's permit. Instead, the governor directed the mining operation to proceed with the assistance of armed men. ........ More ........

You can find more info about this news item ... through browsing.

PLEASE PASS: Please care for Philippine Land and Filipinos News Item Courtesy of the:
Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc.

Hotel PonteFino renewed BPCCI Membership 2009

Greetings !!!

Hotel PonteFino renewed BPCCI Membership for 2009. OR no. 0257 dated 10/08/2009.

Hotel Pontefino
Pastor Village, Gulod Labac
Batangas City, Philippines
Tel: (043) 723-3466 (FINO)
Fax: (043) 723-3488
Mobile Phone : 0917 505 4214
Email: salesbatangas@pontefino.com.ph

Manila Sales Office
11th Floor Unit B Agustin I Bldg. No. 28 F. Ortigas Jr. Ave.
Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600

Tel: (632) 635-9364, 631-8310
Fax: (632) 636-0435
Email: manilasales@pontefino.com.ph

http://www.pontefino.com.ph/

When visiting Batangas, consider staying at the Pontefino Hotel - A popular boutique hotel in Batangas, Philippines.

BPCCI members are entitled to Special Discounted Rates for rooms and events . Get in touch with us or BPCCI Chairman Cora Gonzales when you have guests or visitors to avail of the discount. Our new Office Sun Celluar is 0923-407-1600.

Appeal for Donations

AS PART OF OUR NETWORK, we have received the Appeals for Donation for the typhoon victims from Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UNICEF, Go Negosyo Center for Entrepreneurship. In Lipa, Mary Mediatrix Medical Center and Cafe de Lipa are also accepting donations, and the Rotary Clubs of Lipa City and Sto. Tomas are also collecting among their members.

If you noticed, the UNICEF appeal below is for a minimum of P1,500.00 . You may donate through credit cards. For some people, it might not be convenient to go roaming around, or they only have a few Pesos they can spare.

If you have even a few pesos to donate, and you go to your banks -- you may deposit your few Pesos to the BPCCI Planters Bank Savings Account No. 01-24-067804 in the name of Batangas Province Chamber of Commerce (BPCCI) and we will pool them together. This account has been inactive since the project intended for it ended in March, 2009, so the deposits received hereon will ALL be for the Typhoon victims. Just please e-mail us or text us at 0923-709-1600 so we can do an internal accounting. No need to tell us who you are, if you do not wish to do so -- the deposits will be tallied on a per entry basis on the passbook.

Thank you very much.

Indefatigable Mark Leviste, our Batangas Acting Governor

One can't help but be amazed by the energy of our Vice-Governor Mark Leviste. He is acting Governor while Gov. Vi, our star-for-all-seasons Governor is still in the US.

At the height of Typhoon Ondoy, we were cooling off at the Benilda Resort and Restaurant Friday night in Naujan and then moved to the Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan on Saturday nearer the Pier for the Sunday trip back to Batangas (when it was relatively safe to travel back).

Mark Leviste was on the Radio while we were on the road, moving about in Mindoro. He was giving periodic reports to GMA7 / DZBB. That's where we heard that Calaca suffered extensive damage, and Talisay had landslides. Metro Manila was inundated and in a state of calamity - but it was Vice Governor Mark Leviste of Batangas we were hearing on the radio.

We had an appointment to see him for the Job Fair he is planning for Batangas in coordination with the Job Finder Magazine and Buy and Sell, and whooo..at 8:00 am. he was on the radio saying that there's a traffic jam somewhere in SLEX ..... I had to re-confirm the appointment. True enough ... at 2:00 p.m. he's back at the Provincial Capitol of Batangas at work and ready to meet with us, after having attended a number of engagements from Sto.Tomas to Lipa...

Acting Gov. Mark Leviste is a marvel. He makes the effort to attend every event invitation or send one of his representatives if it becomes really impossible. Energetic, indefatigable, and a hard worker. Mabuhay ka! Mark Leviste.