The Department of Energy yesterday called on oil companies to bring down the prices of fuel in Negros Occidental that are from P4.50 to P5 a liter  higher than in the National Capital Region, and to increase  the number of their “PNoy Lanes” that grant discounts on diesel for all public transport  vehicles.

DOE Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. said he  conducted an unannounced inspection of  prices at gasoline stations in Bacolod City yesterday, following reports that fuel in Negros Occidental was selling   P8 a liter higher  than in Metro Manila.

“We  did not find an P8 price difference,  it   was between P4.50 to P5 a liter, which is consistent with other areas in the Visayas,” he said.

The operation of three new power plants in the Visayas early this year is expected to stabilize the power situation in the region, Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. said yesterday.

Layug said the operation of the Cebu-Energy Development Corporation, Panay-EDC, and the Korean Electric Power Corporation-Salcon Power Corporation (KEPCO-Salcon) by March and by the second quarter of this year will provide an additional 500 megawatts power supply to the Visayas.

“With the three power plants coming on line by the next quarter, we expect the problem of power shortage to be addressed,” he said.

The body of a teenager,  who was molested brutally killed on Feb. 14, was found Wednesday  in Sitio Panglukasan, Brgy. Cabatangan, Talisay City, in an advanced state of decomposition.

In Sipalay City, an 8-year-old also suffered a similar fate, with her uncle as the alleged suspect, police said.

Inspector Pabiolo Ortiz, Talisay deputy police chief, yesterday said the victim, identified as Ma. Rose Matriano,17, who had been reported missing for almost two days by her parents. Her body was found, from information provided by Lemuel Mirambel, one the suspects who was  invited by the police for questioning, Ortiz said.