In Talisay City: More butane stations monitored

CEBU, Philippines - Four days after eight people were arrested for operating an illegal butane refilling station in Talisay City, the city government is now keeping an eye on another backyard refilling station there.

Mary Jane Enrile, Talisay Licensing Office head, disclosed that a station in Barangay Mohon is reportedly refilling butane canisters with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Enrile said her office, along with the officials of Department of Energy and Bureau of Fire Protection, inspected the station last week after Mayor Eduardo Gullas issued a memorandum order.

However, the employees of the establishment reportedly barred the officials from entering the facility.

Enrile said though a pile of butane canisters were displayed in plain view at the refilling station.

At present, she said they are waiting for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and DOE-7 to implement an appropriate action against the operator.

Authorities have raised concern over these illegal refilling stations because they are reportedly operating near the city’s residential areas.

Enrile said the city government does not issue permits to butane refilling stations.

“We are trying our best to help eliminate the proliferation of illegal refilling stations in the city. We do not tolerate this kind of illegal activity,” she said.

It can be recalled that CIDG-7, DOE-7 and CPPO arrested eight persons, including two minors, and confiscated at least 11,000 butane canisters from a refilling station located along Uldog Street, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City last Thursday night.

The search warrant was issued by Judge Joel Dicdican of Regional Trial Court Branch 25 in Danao City based on report that the refilling station has violated several laws, including Department of Energy (DOE) Order 2014-01-001, or the Revised Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Rule.

These violations include illegal trading for refilling without authority, operating without a standard compliance certificate, illegal storage of LPG, and the employment of minors.

Operatives during the raid caught the employees refilling butane canisters with LPG.  Enrile said they will regularly monitor the refilling station in Uldog to ensure that it will not return to its illegal operations.

Refilling butane canisters with LPG is prohibited under the law because it is prone to combustion.

Energy officials earlier admitted that backyard refilling had been very rampant in Cebu because of the demand from the public.

Despite the hazards, people continue to patronize LPG-refilled butane canisters which are more convenient and affordable.

The LPG-refilled canisters are sold from P8.50 to P12. It is cheaper compared to the smallest LPG container that costs at least P100.

The butane canisters are disposable and are not to be refilled. These canisters are not designed for LPG since it is non-compliant with quality and safety requirements for LPG refill.

There is a possibility of leakage that emits hazardous gas and trigger explosion and fire. Based on the Philippine National Standard, only welded steel cylinders with water capacity of 1 liter to 150 liters are intended for storage and transport for LPG.

Enrile said the canister is mostly made of tin material. (FREEMAN)