Thursday, August 20, 2009

Power To Seize Defective LPG Tanks Single Agency To Regulate LPG Industry


Senator Mar Roxas lifting a defective LPG tank as fire victim Abigail Eugenio looks on during a press conference. Roxas warns the public of the proliferation of millions of sub-standard LPG tanks nationwide.

Senator Mar Roxas last week suggested the government should have the power to seize defective LPG cylinders that are proliferating all over the country.

He also said regulation, monitoring, and quality control of the LPG cylinder industry should be given to only one government agency.

"Scrupulous businessmen sell these defective LPG tanks. If government does not stop and run after these unfit tanks, the illegal activities of these businessmen will not also stop," he pointed out.

"So many people have died and millions worth of properties have been destroyed because of these substandard tanks. These should be confiscated and pulled out from the market as soon as possible," he stressed.

Under the current set up, the pre-qualification and inspection of tanks fall under the Department of Trade and Industry while the LPG filling and refilling is supervised and regulated by the Department of Energy.

Such a setup is tedious and confusing when government liability is pursued in cases when a defective tank explodes, kills or destroys properties, according to Roxas.

The LPG Industry Association and the Bureau of Fire Protection has recorded about 1,700 fires from 2001 to 2008 caused by defective cylinders. Industry records show some six (6) million tanks, either already scrapped or in need of new inspection and certification, remain in circulation at the local market.

"In the bill that we are finalizing now, we will just put all the powers over the industry under one agency to stop all these finger-pointing. We will make one agency responsible and accountable so we can run after it when more serious issues arise," Roxas disclosed.

The Senate trade and commerce committee, which Roxas chairs, is now finalizing discussions on the proposed LPG Act. It seeks a stronger government campaign against substandard LPG cylinders and will lay down new guidelines in the regulation of the industry. /MP

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

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