Consumers are in for a confusing adjustment in the prices of petroleum products, with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation announcing on Monday a P1 per liter rollback in unleaded gasoline, diesel and kerosene products but increasing by P1.45 per kilo its liquefied petroleum gas prices.

The advisory on the downward pricing adjustment initiated by Shell also brought down the price of regular gasoline by P0.50 per liter, effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Independent player Seaoil Philippines, although coming later with its advisory, jumped the gun on Shell by implementing its adjustments earlier at 10:00 p.m. on Monday.

The twist to the cost adjustments was the P1.45 per kilogram increase in LPG equivalent to P15.45 per tank that was announced by Shell taking effect Monday midnight (September 7).

Shell vice president Roberto Kanapi said the lower suggested retail prices in gasoline, diesel and kerosene “reflect the decline in international product costs.”

He cautioned, though, that “actual retail prices may vary across locations,” especially since prices are also driven by competitive forces in the marketplace.

Eastern Petroleum chairman Fernando L. Martinez said his company will match Shell’s “actual cost movements in their trading areas.”

The other oil companies, including Petron Corporation and Total Philippines, indicated they will follow the price cut announcements, but schedules are still being decided.

Seaoil, for its part, appeared to have simply re-phrased competitors’ pronouncements when it said that “reflection of adjustments in price war areas may vary.”

The weekly price adjustments prove upsetting for consumers, prompting many interest groups to call for the industry’s return to a regulated regime.

But government policymakers are worried about the prospective return of subsidies that will eventually create humungous problems not only for the industry but for the country’s economy.

The Department of Energy is generally at the receiving end of criticisms, with groups faulting it for not being able to exercise authority to control prices.