File plaint vs butane outlet owner – DOE-7

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Energy-7 has recommended the filing of a complaint against the owner of a butane outlet in Barangay Kinasang-an Pardo, Cebu City for selling butane canisters with liquefied petroleum gas without a permit.

Saul Gonzales, chief of DOE Visayas’ Energy Industry Management Division, said the owner, a certain Amor Peliña, admitted she has been selling butane canisters refilled with LPG without a business permit and without Standard Compliance Certificate from DOE.

This was disclosed during the executive session conducted by the Cebu City Council yesterday.

“The recommendation of the investigating team is now on the table of DOE-7 Director Antonio Labios,” Gonzales told City Councilors.

As provided by Department Circular 2014-01-0001, DOE requires LPG industry players to secure Standard Compliance Certificate before its office.

DOE is imposing an administrative fine of P60,000 for a single violation without prejudice to the filing of a criminal complaint in court.

On November 3, eight individuals suffered first to second degree burns in different parts of their bodies after a butane canister exploded in Greyhounds Subdivision, Barangay Kinasang-an.

Gonzales said DOE investigators went to the residence of Peliña.

Peliña claimed that the fire happened after a leak of LPG gas caught fire from a lighted candle placed at the altar in the working area.

Gonzales said investigators found out that Peliña started selling 100 recycled LPG-filled butane canisters and currently, she has about 1,000 butane canisters for sale in the market.

However, Gonzales said Peliña refused to give information to the investigators of DOE as to where she placed the other butane canisters after the incident.

“According to Mrs. Peliña, the source of her LPG refilled butane canisters were from the municipalities of Barili and Carmen and Danao City. But she refused to gave a detailed information when we asked for specifics regarding the owners of her sources,” the recommendation reads.

Gonzales, though, said that Peliña denied that she is engaged in refilling LPG into butane canisters.

“Mrs. Peliña explained to us that during the process of cleaning the canisters, they segregated the canisters that can still be recycled. According to Mrs. Peliña, the LPG may have leaked and catches fire when her workers “stab” the rejected butane canister,” the recommendation reads.

Gonzales said that DOE cannot confiscate the butane canisters because it does not have an impounding facility, but in order for them to enforce the law, he said DOE can file administrative complaints against violators.

Mayor Michael Rama made an earlier pronouncement that he wants an ordinance banning refilling stations of butane canisters with LPG.

However, City Councilor Nestor Archival said banning and cancellation of businesses is not a solution since the operation is already rampant. — (FREEMAN)