Gatchalian lauds passage of bill regulating LPG industry on third reading

A bill streamlining existing laws and regulating the domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry to ensure consumer welfare against the rampant industry malpractices and provide consumer choice has been approved on third and final reading in the Senate, Senator Win Gatchalian said.

"Ang layon natin dito ay siguruhing may pamantayan ang industriya upang maprotektahan ang kapakanan ng mga mamimili. Nais din natin silang bigyan ng pagkakataong makapamili ng tatak ng LPG. Sa ngayon kasi, kung gusto mong magpalit ng tatak ng LPG dahil mas mura, kailangan mo munang bumili ng bagong silindro," he said on Senate Bill No. 1955 or the proposed LPG Act.

Gatchalian noted the lack of any existing regulatory framework to oversee the domestic LPG industry even in the wake of LPG-related accidents that resulted in the loss of lives, limbs and properties as shown in the explosion that occurred in the Serendra condominium complex in Taguig City in 2013, in a water refilling station in Sampaloc in 2019 and the most recent, in a Makati restaurant. The Energy Committee Chairman emphasized that safety is crucial because LPG is a highly flammable and an explosive fuel that poses a major fire hazard if not stored or handled properly.

The Proposed National Energy Policy and Regulatory Framework for the Philippine LPG Industry seeks the establishment of the LPG Cylinder Improvement Program to ensure that unsafe cylinders will be immediately taken out of circulation and replaced with new ones to significantly decrease LPG-related explosions and fires. Likewise, the measure intends to institutionalize the Cylinder Exchange and Swapping Program, allowing consumers to shift to another brand of LPG by bringing any empty LPG cylinder to any retail outlet.

Several versions of the bill has been introduced as early as 2004 in hope of instituting a national energy policy and regulatory framework to govern the importation, refining, refilling, transportation, conveyance, distribution and marketing of LPG as well as the manufacture, requalification, exchange and swapping of LPG pressure vessels.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that LPG is considered a basic necessity as four out of 10 Filipino households are dependent on it for daily cooking, with overall domestic consumption growing at an average of six percent annually. LPG is also being used by various industries, commercial establishments and even as fuel for motor vehicles.

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Panukalang batas na mag rereporma sa industriya ng LPG pasado na sa Senado - Gatchalian

Inihayag ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pagpasa sa Senado ng panukalang magsasaayos sa mga umiiral na batas at magtatatag ng regulasyon sa lokal na industriya ng liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) upang pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga kunsyumer laban sa mga tiwaling negosyante at mapadali ang pagpapalit ng tangke ng mga mamimili.

"Ang layon natin dito ay siguruhing may pamantayan ang industriya upang maprotektahan ang kapakanan ng mga mamimili. Nais din natin silang bigyan ng pagkakataong makapamili ng tatak ng LPG. Sa ngayon kasi, kung gusto mong magpalit ng tatak ng LPG dahil mas mura, kailangan mo munang bumili ng bagong tangke o silindro," he said on Senate Bill No. 1955 or the proposed LPG Act.

Pinunto ni Gatchalian ang kawalan ng regulatory framework para pangasiwaan ang lokal na industriya ng LPG, dahilan kaya hindi matugunan ang mga isyung may kilaman sa LPG katulad ng mga aksidenteng nangyari sa Serendra condominium complex sa Taguig City noong 2013 pati na rin ng nangyari sa isang water refilling station sa Sampaloc noong 2019 at ang pinakahuli, sa isang restaurant sa Makati City. Lahat ng ito ay dulot ng pagsabog ng LPG.

Ayon sa Energy Committee Chairman, mahalaga na masiguro ang ligtas na paggamit ng LPG lalo pa't maari itong pagmulan ng sunog at pagsabog kung hindi tama ang pamamahala nito.

Ang panukalang National Energy Policy and Regulatory Framework for the Philippine LPG Industry ay layong magtatag ng LPG Cylinder Improvement Program para masiguro na ang mga depektibong tangke ay mawala na sa sirkulasyon at mapalitan ng mga bago nang sa gayon ay mabawasan ang mga pagsabog at sunog dulot ng LPG. Sa ilalim ng nasabing batas, magkakaroon din ng Cylinder Exchange and Swapping Program para mas maging madali sa mga kunsyumer ang pagpapalit ng tatak ng LPG. Maaari na silang bumili ng ibang tatak ng LPG gamit ang lumang tangke sa kahit saang retail outlet.

Marami nang bersyon ng panukalang batas ang inihain mula pa noong 2004 sa pag-asang makakapagtatag ng national energy policy and regulatory framework upang pamahalaan ang importasyon, refining, refilling, transportasyon, pagdadala, distribusyon at pagtitinda ng LPG pati na rin ang produksyon, requalification at pagpapalit ng LPG pressure vessels.

Ang domestic consumption ng LPG ay patuloy na tumataas ng anim na porsyento taon-taon ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).