Rejoinder to LPGMA’s full page ads

In the interest of fair play, may we please request the publication of the rejoinder to the full-page ads titled “Pagpahayag ng pagbawi ng suporta sa LPGMA party-list” put out by the LPG Refillers’ Association (LPGRA) in The Philippine STAR on May 7 and 11, 2013.

Allow us to clarify that LPGRA has never been affiliated in any way with the LPG Marketers’ Association (LPGMA). LPGRA misleadingly made it appear that they formed part of LPGMA, and that LPGRA was now breaking away from, and withdrawing its support for LPGMA.

LPGMA has intentionally rejected any linkages with LPGRA, because some of its members are facing complaints for alleged violations of petroleum trading laws.

For example, one of the signatories to the LPGRA ads is X-5 Marketing, which is facing complaints for suspected unfair trade practices.

The complaints are the outcome of a raid carried out by a joint team of the Department of Energy, LPGMA, and the National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, on X-5 Marketing’s refilling station in Valenzuela City.

Before it assails LPGMA, and so as to gain credibility, LPGRA should first purge its ranks of members whose refilling stations have been raided by the autorities for supposed infractions.

Right now, LPGRA lacks integrity, because it would appear the association is providing an umbrella to questionable entities.

LPGRA also denounced in their ads the proposed LPG Regulation and Safety Act, or House Bill 5052, which is being pushed by LPGMA Rep. Arnel Ty in Congress.

LPGRA claims it is opposed to the bill. Yet, they could not even cite any specific provision of the bill to which they are supposedly in disagreement.

Allow us to stress that after due public hearing and consultation, the 55-member House committee on trade and industry previously endorsed the bill, which includes a one-time LPG Cylinder Exchange, Swapping and Rehabilitation Program, for the benefit of mostly disadvantaged consumers possessing worn-out and potentially unsafe tanks.

We hope this puts in clearer perspective LPGRA’s self-serving and uncalled-for negative campaigning against LPGMA.  — ATTY. MIGUEL L. PONCE JR., Office of Rep. Arnel U. Ty (LPGMA)[email protected]