With the proposed Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Regulation Bill already inching closer to becoming a law, leading player Petron Corporation is eyeing that more robust competition will finally reign in the sector, as rouge industry traders will eventually be snuffed out with the stricter implementation of rules.
The LPG bill, that already passed the maze of Congressional approval at bicameral level, sets out a national policy and regulatory framework “to strengthen and restructure regulations governing the sector.”
According to Petron, “through this landmark bill, stronger and more stringent penalties will be in place for offenses – like illegal refilling, underfilling, hoarding, use of sub-standard cylinders and operating without a valid license.”
The oil firm added “the passage of the LPG Bill will address regulatory gaps in the industry, strengthen consumer protection and increase public safety against accidents resulting from illegal LPG trade practices.”
With the prospective regulations in place, Petron emphasized that it will be expecting “positive changes (that the law) will create in the industry and among LPG users.”
The oil firm asserted the consistent support it has been extending to the government – including the law enforcement agencies, in stamping out “illegal activities in the LPG sector that endanger lives and undermine consumer rights.”
For its Petron Gasul cylinders, in particular, the company lamented that these are “often replicated or illegally refilled by unauthorized LPG refillers.”
It thus noted that “these fake cylinders are dangerous, of substandard quality and most of the time, underfilled;” adding that “LPG explosions from product leakages in non-compliant cylinders are a common cause of fire incidents in the country.
While waiting for the enforcement of more compelling industry rules, Petron is consistently reminding the consuming public “to source their cylinders only through authorized sellers to ensure their safety and security.”
Petron assured that its LPG products are manufactured “according to stringent safety standards,” as prescribed by the Department of Trade and Industry, primarily those that relate to wall thickness, weld, integrity and valve fitting.
“Each cylinder passes through rigorous testing and inspection before they are refilled and distributed in the market,” the oil firm stressed.
It similarly pointed out that the cylinders have laser-printed quality seal that are equipped with unique “QR Codes”, concretely manifesting then that these passed safety and quality testing processes.