Proper implementation of new LPG regulatory law in Mindanao sought

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – An oil and gas company has urged concerned government agencies to properly enforce Republic Act No. 11592, also known as the LPG Industry Regulation Act, to carve out illegal refilling activities in Mindanao. Evelyn Gerodias, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. general manager for Visayas and Mindanao, said the participation of other concerned government agencies is significant to achieve this goal.
ORGANIZERS  of the LPG Regional Summit 2023 display huge LPG-style balloons outside the conference room during the  two-day LPG Regional Summit held at Chali Beach Resort, Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, from June 13 to June 14. (Franck Dick Rosete) She stressed that implementing the law cannot be done by the Department of Energy (DOE) alone. "Not only that, we will be able to serve the consuming market with a safe product," Gerodias said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin during a two-day LPG Regional Summit in this city from June 13 to June 14. RA 11592 is an act establishing the regulatory framework for the safe operations of the liquefied petroleum gas industry, delineating the powers and functions of various government agencies, and defining and penalizing certain prohibited acts. The private sector, Gerodias said, was consulted in the formulation of the law. The full participation of the private sector is also vital, especially in following the required licenses and permits and delivering safe products to the public.
OFFICIALS from different government agencies and the private sector prepare themselves for the LPG Regional Summit 2023 Press Conference at Chali Beach Resort, Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, on Wednesday, June 14. (Franck Dick Rosete) The LPG Regional Summit 2023, which was spearheaded by the DOE, served as an educational tour across the country to educate the LPG industry and other concerned government agencies on the new law and its approved and published implementing rules and regulations (IRR). In a press conference on Wednesday, June 14, DOE Mindanao Field Office Director Nilo Geroche said RA 11592 is still in the transition period and is expected to be finished on July 6. He added that right after the transition period, the full implementation of the law will commence. One of the provisions of RA 11592 that is not found in other existing laws is Training Recognition, where the DOE and BFP will provide training accreditation to the trademark owners, especially on how to set up regulators on LPG cylinders. Arnel Ty, program director of LPG Safety Foundation Inc., said once the trademark owners are accredited, they will also be the ones to train their dealers, and that dealers, who are selling to a consumer, will also be the ones to teach their consumers on the proper use. Apart from training recognition, Ty said, the DOE will also implement the LPG Cylinder Exchange, Swapping, and Improvement Program, which will be spearheaded by the Regional Program Implementing Task Force in collaboration with the trademark owners and will collect all of the rotten tanks in the market and replace them with the standard ones. When it comes to enforcement and monitoring, under the IRR, the DOE, Department of Trade and Industry, and other government agencies shall "create, maintain, and regularly update" a database of LPG industry participants. However, if there are concerned citizens who would like to report illegal LPG dealers that don’t have the necessary licenses and permits, they may also provide the details to the DOE through their contact information and social media platforms so that they can seek assistance. Under the law, DOE can request assistance from law enforcement agencies, considering that there is no DOE office in this city. Hundreds of personnel from government agencies and people from the LPG industry attended the 9th LPG Regional Summit conducted in the country and the first in Mindanao. The next summit will be conducted in Davao City.