The president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL)-Bohol chapter and
ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), Board Member Jescelo Adiong on Dec. 28, 2021, urged the leaders of Bohol to stand up and call on national leaders to solve the fuel supply crisis that has been happening in the province following the onslaught of typhoon Odette.
Adiong’s speech is an offshoot of long queues forming at gasoline stations in the province especially in capital Tagbilaran City.
Many people wait for hours just to get gasoline and diesel fuels with some
ending up empty handed because the gas stations have run out of fuel products by the time their turn is up, according to some reports.
He called the fuel supply crisis a “PRESSING PROBLEM” which is “affecting the life of practically every Boholano in the province”.
“While we are still reeling with the fangs of the Covid [Coronavirus disease] pandemic, here we are in panic mode facing the scarcity of fuel supply,” Adiong added.
He went on to ask whether the fuel supply problem is real or artificial. “Is this man made or natural?” he asked.
“The day after [typhoon] Odette ravaged Bohol like a hungry vulture, we saw long lines of people queuing for fuel,” Adiong described the situation.
“And the lines have been increasing everyday orchestrated by containers and transportations and people from all walks of life,” the councilor from Loay narrated in his privilege speech.
“Yet despite repeated assurance of stable fuel supply, still the people are lining up to get some gasoline,” the PCL president said.
“We have repeatedly been assured of ample supply of fuel but such supply of energy has been moving our people to desperation,” he said. “People’s energy is starting to lose its control,” Adiong added.
The Board Member who represents the councilors of Bohol as president of the PCL dared to ask whether or not there is indeed a shortage of fuel supply.
“While we understand people’s impatience about this issue, yet we CANNOT simply continue to sit on the swivel chair acting deaf and blind to the Boholanos’ plight today,” Adiong quipped.
“[Department of Energy] DOE SEC Alfonso Cusi has been announcing here and there, that there is more than enough supply of fuel, but the big question stands: WHERE IS IT?” Adiong issued his query.
Adiong fears that the fuel supply problem will cause trouble to the economy as there are some businesses which have decided to close shop.
In the same vein, people are asking for price control as there are some establishments who have reportedly taken advantage of the situation following the typhoon.
“Similarly, hundreds and thousands of people are clamoring for price control as vultures are using their scalpels in the business world taking hold of the residents with the increase of prices due to what they call as the law of supply and demand,” he said.
Moreover, Adiong added: “Yes we need relief packs; we need packs of rice; we need water. But we URGENTLY NEED THE SOLUTION TO THE FUEL CRISIS because this is the MAIN ROOT of all crises.”
As he ended his speech, Adiong rallied support from his colleagues to solve the fuel supply crisis.
“I humbly but strongly suggest that we at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol kindly urge the DoE to finally resolve the crisis,” he mentioned in his speech.
“I also suggest that we accept the fact that the solution to this problem is in the hands of those who are in power in Manila. Hence, we should RAISE OUR VOICE IN UNISON telling them that the solution to the fuel crisis is not within the reach of the provincial govt. We should ask them to bring the resources to BOHOL NOW or else people will continue to line up on the streets bringing not only gallons for fuel and water but also TRUCKLOADS of HATRED and CONFUSION and DESPERATION,” Adiong added.
“Let us tell Sec Cusi THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPLY OF FUEL BECAUSE the DoE HAS NOT DONE ITS BEST TO SEND US THE MUCH NEEDED SUPPLY,” Adiong strongly emphasized his point in the speech.
Adiong also gave a grim scenario to the members of the provincial board that they too may end up queing for gasoline if nothing will be done to solve the problem
“I hope we will not see ourselves joining the long lines on the streets,” Adiong warned.
SP ACTION
The members or the SP then approved en masse a resolution asking Sec. Cusi to find solutions to the fuel supply crisis affecting Bohol, according to the Majority Floor Leader Ricky Masamayor.
PCL HELP
Adiong told The Bohol Tribune that he presided over an emergency meeting on Dec. 23, 2021 at JJs Seafood Village to find out the condition of every town based on the information coming from the councilors in the aftermath of typhoon Odette.
He learned that the 2nd district towns are the most affected by the typhoon.
He then provided cash assistance to the councilors during the meeting. In the same meeting, the PCL Bohol passed a resolution asking for assistance from the national PCL leadership for those affected by the typhoon, Adiong bared.