Lawmaker touts gas rewards program in meeting with gov’t, private sector officials.

Rep. Víctor Parés Otero, at back right, said that at the summit meeting “we reached a preliminary agreement, by consensus, to establish a rewards program, a type of discount, so that consumers can purchase gasoline at a reduced price, for example, if they pay in cash. This could result in real relief at the pump.”

By THE STAR STAFF

Government officials said a consensus is nearing to create a discount program for gasoline purchases at filling stations on the island, following a summit meeting held late last week in the House of Representatives where the consumer affairs secretary, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau chairman, and the Bankers Association president discussed the impact of events in the Middle East on the price of fuel.

Also present were personnel from the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, the Treasury Department and the United Retailers Center.

“We are closely monitoring the fluctuations in gasoline prices at the pump and the effect this has on the wallets of Puerto Ricans, as well as the increases caused by events beyond our control, such as what is happening in the Middle East,” noted Rep. Víctor Parés Otero, who chairs the Government Committee in the lower chamber of the island Legislature, and hosted the meeting. “That is why we held this summit meeting, where we reached a preliminary agreement, by consensus, to establish a rewards program, a type of discount, so that consumers can purchase gasoline at a reduced price, for example, if they pay in cash. This could result in real relief at the pump.” 

“This platform that we are promoting, once again in communication with all sectors, allows gas stations to offer their customers a discount related to gasoline purchases through a rewards system with customer rebates,” the San Juan District 4 lawmaker added about the proposal he authored. “This type of mechanism has been implemented in states like Virginia and Hawaii with excellent results for consumers. This would be another initiative, along with those implemented by the governor, which have made the price of gasoline in Puerto Rico almost 18 percent lower than the state average in the midst of an emergency situation.”

Parés said meetings with other sectors will continue in the coming days and that they are working “with a sense of urgency.”

Currently, the average price of regular gasoline is $1.049 per liter. Some 90.6% of the gasoline consumed in Puerto Rico is West Texas Intermediate, which is produced in the states of Texas and Oklahoma. On Sunday, the price per barrel was $93.20, a decrease of $1.49 compared to Saturday’s estimated price.