Petron Corp. is optimistic illegal refilling of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will finally be eradicated with the signing into law last month of the LPG Industry Regulation Act.
Petron in a statement said provisions in the law like the stiffer penalties, the institutionalization of a cylinder exchange and swapping program and the gradual mandatory phaseout of generic and unmarked cylinders are a big deterrent to this illegal practice.
“The passage of the LPG bill will significantly change and elevate the standards by which businesses operate in the LPG industry. This will benefit both legitimate players and the consumers through addressing regulatory gaps, strengthening consumer protection and increasing public safety by making sure that all LPG cylinders have undergone the proper safety and quality checks,” Petron said.
Under the new law, illegal refilling will be imposed a fine of P25,000 to P100,000 per cylinder with imprisonment of six to 12 years.
Petron said since June this year, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detention Group has seized more than 1,000 illegally refilled Petron LPG tanks with an estimated equivalent amount of over P2.5 million in various locations in Metro Manila, North Luzon and South Luzon.
Prior to the signing of the LPG Act, the only law that governed the LPG industry was a circular issued by the Department of Energy in 2014.
Under that circular, an administrative fine worth P60,000 can be slapped to violators apart from a fine of P10,000 for every prohibited act or P5,000 per questionable cylinder, whichever is higher. – Jed Macapagal