By Betheena Unite
Three petroleum corporations in the Philippines had their products dosed with official fuel marker in support of the nationwide implementation of the government’s Fuel Marking Program, an official of the Bureau of Customs said Thursday.
Following the commencement of marking activities on petroleum products of Seaoil Philippines, Inc. and Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. in Batangas and Bataan, respectively, Insular Oil Corporation in Subic followed suit as it conducted its first marking activity Wednesday, Customs Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Teddy Raval said.
Raval, who heads the program's implementing office, said an estimated 8,213,636 liters of Mogas Ron 92 Gasoline onboard MT Grand Ace 11 from Guangdong, China, was marked at the fuel terminal facility of Pure Petroleum Corporation in Subic.
The dosing of the petroleum products was done by adding the official marker inside storage tanks where the petroleum products will be stored. It was conducted by the combined team from the bureau, Department of Finance, and fuel marking provider SGS Philippines-SICPA SA.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said all other stakeholders are expected to follow suit before the end of the washout period in January, 2020. He hopes to accelerate the marking of petroleum products stored, transported, and peddled, as the field testing phase of the program is fast approaching.
Raval advised retailers to only buy and sell marked fuel “to avoid violation and possible penalties, including criminal prosecution.”
By Feb. 3, 2020, testing of fuel in the retail side as well as enforcement actions will begin, the officials said. Gasoline, diesel, and kerosene found to be unmarked will be seized, and penalties will be imposed against those storing, transporting, importing, or peddling unmarked fuel.