Malacanang says DOE is forming a team to scrutinize oil companies THE Department of Energy (DoE) is currently forming a team that will scrutinize the books of accounts of the oil companies in support of President Benigno S. Aquino III's call for transparency, a Palace official said on Wednesday. "From what I understand from Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, they are close to already forming the team that will scrutinize the books of the oil companies. They already have representation from the sectors," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.  Report said the oil firms are willing to open their books of accounts for government examination in response to a call from the President to face public scrutiny. On the other hand, various groups expressed concern over reports that oil players will implement upward price adjustments this January, according to news reports. Valte assured that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is regularly conducting monitoring of prices to prevent overpricing. Oil companies are ready to follow the requirements being imposed by the DoE as mandated by appropriate provisions" relevant laws, such as the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act. The oil firms are also mandated to comply strictly with the "financial protocols of the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue, as well as statutory submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  (PCOO) ____________________________     Malacañang confident DTI will meet export targets  MALACANANG expressed confidence that the Department of Trade and Industry would be able to fulfill the country's export target of $120-billion as contained in the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP). The PEDP seeks to double the value of exports from $51.5 billion in 2010 to $120 billion by 2016 through various programs aimed at increasing exports by 10 percent beginning 2011. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told a press briefing on Wednesday that the government was supportive of these DTI programs that, according to DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo, will help exporters make full use of the opportunities presented by existing free-trade agreements (FTAs) and new preferential trade deals with the United States and Europe. (PCOO)