CEBU CITY (PNA) — The Cebu City Council will summon oil companies to attend one of its sessions to explain the difference in fuel prices in Visayas compared to those in Mindanao and Luzon.

It also asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Energy (DoE) to inform the body of measures they took to address the concern on prices and on the cartelization of the industry.

At the same time, it asked the Senate and the House of Representatives to review Republic Act (RA) 8479, or the Oil Regulation Law.

In a privilege speech, Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias complained that since the law’s enactment in 1998, fuel prices have increased by 300 to 400 percent.

He said there is a clamor for the return to regulation, with several House bills pending before Congress, and he wanted to know if this move is justified.

He also asked if safeguards are in place because of the suspected cartel and collusion of players in the industry.

”Invite representatives of fuel companies with consumer groups to explain why fuel is more expensive (here) compared to (that in) other regions,” he asked the City Council.

He likewise requested the DTI and DoE to inform the body on “measures taken to address oil price hike and prevention of cartelization.”

For his part, Councilor Arsenio Pacana asked Cabarrubias for an update on the complaint of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who filed last May a complaint against the country’s three oil firms for violating RA 8479.

That was after she learned that Cebuanos are paying P5 to P8 more for oil products than what consumers in the rest of the country pay for the same products.

The Governor wants redress of the “injustice” in court.