Even if the Fire Prevention Month is already coming to a close, consumers are still consistently warned of the dangers that counterfeit liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products may bring that could result in loss of lives and properties.
Given the perils of illegal practices in the sector, Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian is urging the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) “to fast track the promulgation of the law regulating the domestic LPG industry to ensure consumer protection against industry malpractices.”
The LPG Regulation Law under Republic Act 11592 was signed into law in October last year, but the enabling implementing rules and regulations (IRR) has yet to issued, hence, the long arms of the law cannot be comprehensively operationalized yet to curb unwarranted trading and forbidden practices in the sector.
As gathered, the IRR was already signed by the Department of Energy (DOE), but the DTI has yet to act on it.
Given lingering industry predicaments then, Gatchalian has prompted concerned agencies to start removing all unsafe LPG tanks circulating in the market as these are primary triggers for fire incidents.
He bewailed that while the law was enacted five months ago, “We have yet to hear the release of the law’s implementing rules and regulations.”
Once the law is enforced, there will also be institutionalized program of cylinder exchange and swapping to ensure safety.
As prescribed in the law, the LPG cylinder exchange and swapping program will allow consumers “to bring any brand of empty LPG cylinder to any retail outlet and use it to purchase another brand of LPG cylinder carried by the retail outlet.”
Additionally, the LPG cylinder improvement program would guarantee the quality of all LPG cylinders in circulation, that in the process will likewise reinforce consumers’ protection from imminent hazards.
The lawmaker pointed out that based on data, “a total of 787 LPG-related fire incidents nationwide were recorded last year by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and six of which were caused by defective tanks.”
Gatchalian noted of a fire incident that occurred just last month in Sta. Cruz, Manila that claimed four lives. The lawmaker, thus, noted it is only by removing defective and substandard LPG tanks in the market that consumers can be truly protected from the fuel commodity for their cooking needs.