By Minerva Newman CEBU CITY— An estimated 80 percent of gas stations and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) retailers in Dumaguete City were found operating without permits from the Department of Energy (DOE), according to Engineer Rey Maleza, officer-in-charge of the Energy Industry Management Division of the DOE Visayas Field Office. In an interview with The Manila Bulletin, Maleza bared that the figure was based on the Focused Inspection on the Downstream Oil Industry activity conducted throughout the province of Negros Oriental from August 13 to 17 by DOE personnel with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and representatives of various local government units (LGUs) of the province. The joint monitoring and inspection determined the compliance of local retailers of petroleum products to the laws and regulations governing the downstream oil industry and to the quality and quantity of the product they sell in the market, Maleza said. “More or less 80 percent of both LPG and liquid fuels outlets are found to be operating without permit from DOE. A few establishments, particularly LPG retail outlets, were found to be selling underfilled LPG tanks,” Malleza added. Maleza noted though that overall the outlets are compliant with regards to quantity and quality except for their application of the required certificates from the DOE but these are negligible compared to the numbers recorded in other provinces in the Visayas, he added. Maleza told The Manila Bulletin that 84 percent of the 162 gas stations inspected were operating without Certificates of Compliance (COCs) from DOE, and 11 percent were found to have been under-delivering dispensers. Maleza also disclosed that 98 percent of LPG establishments were found to be operating without Standards Compliance Certificates (SCCs) from DOE and they have been referred to the respective LGUs for proper and corrective measures. Maleza said LGUs have the authority and responsibility to inspect gas stations and LPG retailers in compliance with DOE rules and regulations because this is the basis for approving their local permits to operate and do business at the local levels. According to Maleza DOE Circular 2017-11-0011 or the Revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Business of Retailing Liquid Fuels strictly requires the application of COC from DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau or its counterparts in Visayas in Mindanao before engaging in the business of retailing liquid fuels. Recently, the number of applications for COCs and SCCs in Negros Oriental increased after the conduct of the inspection last month. Majority of those found without licenses from DOE cited “lack of awareness of the laws” as reason for not having their COCs, Maleza added. Maleza said the DOE-Visiayas Field Office continues to conduct regular inspection and information caravan in the region and those found without permits “We will file cases against them.”