The Department of Energy (DOE) has conceded to the plea of many liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) retailers in the country that their applications for license-to-operate (LTO) be continually processed despite an earlier enforcement of a deadline.

The DOE had initially set July 7 this year as the deadline on securing licenses for the LPG retail outlets to operate, but given the remaining concerns raised by industry players, the agency has sounded off openness to provide them leeway on the application process so they can fully comply with all the requirements.

As conveyed by major LPG brand Solane, “the DOE assured it will continue to accept and process applications for the issuance of permits to qualified LPG participants even after the deadline.”

Solane, in particular, had extended valuable help to the DOE in disseminating information that will apprise industry retailers on their mandated compliance as well as on requirements they will need to adhere to on the extension of their LTOs for continued business operations.

Solane’s corporate parent firm Isla LPG Corp has spearheaded the series of symposiums that primarily engaged the energy department so it can “directly address concerns raised by LPG retailers and distributors on the provisions of the LPG Industry Regulation Act (LIRA),” in reference to the country’s LPG Law.

For such activities, Solane indicated that it was able to reach out to more than 3,000 of its retailer trade outlets (RTOs) nationwide, with many of them raising concerns on how they can secure LTO as well as other permits that will warrant them to operate legally.

The other government agencies which participated in the symposiums had been representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and various local government units (LGUs) that have been hosting the operations of LPG retailers in their communities.

According to Isla LPG CEO Tonito Gonzalez, “the RTO symposium is our way of showing our unwavering support to the LPG Law as we commit to working closely with government agencies and our retail partners to help ensure their tasks and responsibilities under the law are fulfilled and carried through.”

The company similarly noted that the energy department somehow “provided clarity on several critical provisions of (the) LIRA.”

Beyond concerns on licenses and the commitment of the government agencies to help in the successful implementation of the LPG law, the symposiums also tackled relentless issues of malpractices as well as unfair trade practices in the sector.

Marvin Castor, liaison officer of Solane LPG, narrated that “among the most common challenges encountered by LPG partners in Luzon is the presence of unauthorized and non-compliant LPG sellers and refillers.”

He primarily stated that “unfair trade practices remain a challenge as illegal refilling plants are rampant,” noting that in Solane’s case, it was able to confiscate P338,300 worth of counterfeit and illegally refilled Solane LPG products and paraphernalia in at least 10 raids nationwide.

Castor opined that with LIRA’s effective implementation, “consumers are expected to benefit … by having safe, legitimate, and properly filled LPG cylinders in their kitchens,” further citing consumers’ hopes that “LIRA will not make LPG more expensive with the reduction of substandard LPG products in the market.”