THE Department of Energy (DOE) has warned manufacturers and retailers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that they may incur steep penalties for selling substandard and generic LPG cylinders.
DOE Director Rino Abad said the penalty for each violation of the standards is P25,000 per violation for the seller or manufacturer.
For example, an LPG tank without any brand marking is penalized P25,000 each. A defective valve is a separate violation also punishable by a P25,000 fine for each tank.
Abad said the stricter penalty aims to protect consumers as substandard LPGs can lead to disasters like fires that can cause loss of life and property.
The DOE also encouraged consumers to check their LPG tanks from time to time for leaks to ensure safety.
The LPG Marketers Association supports the DOE’s drive to eradicate generic and substandard cylinders in the market.
Of the estimated 45 million LPG cylinders in the Philippines, around 41 million have been reclassified or repaired and around 4 million substandard tanks are still in circulation, according to LPGMA President Arnel Ty.
In the Visayas and Mindanao, authorities have confiscated millions of LPG canisters, which are widely used in the regions, Ty said.
According to Ty, these small LPG cylinders are generic or unbranded and have not undergone quality checking, which means they do not conform to standards. (ABS-CBN News)
