Even with a surplus of oxygen, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday warned against hoarding which has been noted among individual buyers for their households.
This is despite a precaution issued by the Department of Heath (DOH) against stocking up on oxygen at home due to safety reasons.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez has assured current industry capacity is about three times more than current demand and that there is a surplus from the producers side.
Lopez said the current capacity surplus includes both the medical and industrial oxygen capacity, and the latter can also be allocated to produce medical oxygen if and when necessary.
But Lopez does not discount the possibility of importing, although on a minimal scale, if needed.
According to Lopez, the combined capacity of Ingasco Inc., AirLiquide, Linde and MEPZ Mixed Gases Corp., is 603 tons per day — 205 TPD or medicaL; 271 TPD for industrial and 127 TPD in excess.
Lopez also assured producers have not increased their prices. Oxygen tanks are subject to suggested retail prices.
“Hoarding especially at this time is a crime and our economic intelligence team will run after erring distributors or refillers,” he said.
Lopez said based on DTI’s report from industry, for now, the increase in demand for cylinder tanks is coming more from the households trying to buy for their personal needs, either current or potential emergency.
Lopez said the DTI has earlier asked DOH to procure and stockpile oxygen cylinder tanks and regulators in case the Delta variant will cause a surge.
He added the DTI has also presented this recommendation to the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“The DOH is on it,” Lopez said.
Lopez added the DTI has also encouraged oxygen manufacturers to expand their current capacities. This critical medical product is part of sectors incentivized under Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act.
Lopez said two companies which have earlier announced they were investing in oxygen manufacturing are pursuing their plans. One of them, Cryogenics Gases will operate in Butuan this year.
