News Briefs: May 7, 2019

Oil companies lower pump prices

MANILA, Philippines — Pump prices of gasoline decreased by 90 centavos per liter while those of diesel and kerosene went down by 80 centavos as the Dubai crude oil price hovered at close to $71 per barrel last week.

Shell, PTT, Total, Seaoil and Eastern, have announced the price changes.

Phoenix announced the biggest reduction in gasoline prices at P1 per liter.

The price of Dubai crude, the bellwether for Asian imports, stayed at $70.95 per barrel for consecutive days until May 2 after starting last week’s trading at $70.90 per barrel.

So far this year, Dubai crude prices peaked at $71.20 per barrel on April 22.

Since the start of 2019, local pump prices have had a net increase of P10.14 for gasoline, P7.64 per liter for diesel and P5.27 for kerosene. —Ronnel W. Domingo

PDEA puts up 2nd batch of retired K-9 for adoption

Several four-legged “heroes” are going to get new homes by the end of the month, as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) retired another 18 of their narcotics detection dogs, half of which were put up for adoption last week.

The K-9 adoption day held on May 3 at the PDEA’s K-9 facility in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, was meant to screen interested new owners for the dogs.

The event attracted 35 applicants, mostly civilians, who are now being “ranked” for suitability to take home the nine K-9s, said PDEA K-9 Unit chief Bernardo Velasquez, in a phone interview with the Inquirer on Monday.

The list will then be submitted to PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino for approval. The dogs are expected to be turned over by the end of May.

The public adoption of retired K-9 is already the second held by the PDEA. Last year, 21 dogs were retired, with 16 adopted by civilians, Velasquez said. —Jaymee T. Gamil