The transportation sector is calling on the House Committee on Energy that has set a public hearing in Bacolod City today to act, not only on the huge price difference between fuel sold in Negros Occidental and Metro Manila, but also on  the failure of oil firms to roll back prices to reflect global trends.

Oil prices eased to near $87 a barrel yesterday in Asia on renewed concerns that the U.S. economy may weaken and hit fuel demand in the world's top crude consumer.

About 12 congressmen, including those from Negros Occidental, are expected to join the House Committee on Energy hearing on complaints that fuel sold in Negros Occidental cost about P4 more than that in Manila, at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.

The House Committee on Energy will also look into the power concerns of Negrenses tomorrow, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said yesterday.

The committee headed by Rep. Henedina Razon-Abad is holding a meeting with officials of power cooperatives in Negros Occidental at the Central Negros Electric Cooperative office 9 a.m. tomorrow.

The committee is expected to listen to the concerns of the cooperatives to see how the can be acted on, he said.*CPG

The Philippine Reclamation Authority should prove that the fingerport at the Reclamation Area in Bacolod City that had been reclaimed by the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation is illegal, Renecito Novero, the legal counsel of the BREDCO said yesterday.

PRA should review its records if it believes that the fingerport has no permit from the city and PRA, Novero also said.

He said he believes all reclamation projects included in the contract are authorized, and if there are areas not included in the contract, they (PRA) should prove it, he added.