Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star)
- June 15, 2019 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Department
of Energy (DOE) has appealed to consumers in Visayas not to patronize
unauthorized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-refilling activities amid the
continued proliferation of the illegal practice.
The DOE, through its Oil
Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) and Visayas Field Office (VFO), met with LPG
suppliers as part of its push to further strengthen the agency’s campaign
against the proliferation of illegal LPG-refilling activities, particularly
LPG-refilled butane canisters.
“Butane canisters that have been
refilled with LPG are prohibited primarily because they are extremely
dangerous. These are fire and explosive hazards. We would like to appeal to the
public, especially to our kababayans in the Visayas where this illegal activity
has been rampant — don’t risk your lives and those of your children and loved
ones. Do not buy these illegally refilled LPG canisters,” DOE Secretary Alfonso
Cusi said.
During the meeting with LPG
suppliers, DOE–OIMB assistant director Rodela Romero and VFO director
Jose Rey Maleza stressed the continuing joint enforcement activities being
undertaken by the DOE with the Philippine National Police and the various
local government units (LGUs) concerned.
This includes, among others, the
filing of criminal and administrative cases against those who have been found
engaging in the unlawful refiling of LPG into non-compliant containers, as well
as the LGUs’ provision of warehouse space for confiscated illegal items.
Data from the DOE-VFO indicate that
since 2017, there have been 72 criminal cases filed by law enforcement agencies
against illegal LPG refillers, found mostly in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.
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