CEBU, Philippines — Vendors of Butane canisters in Cebu City will be required to comply with the requirements from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) before they will be allowed to sell in public markets.
Acting on a request for guidance from City Market Administrator Jonil Matuguina on the application of a stall holder in Barangay T. Padilla, the City Legal Office said that butane gas should not be sold in public markets in the city unless proper safeguards are first complied with and undertaken by the applicant.
These safeguards shall include, among others, the submission of a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate issued by BFP to ensure that the facility, structure, or building where the vendor proposes to sell butane has been duly inspected and deemed compliant with the Fire Code of the Philippines.
A Standard Compliance Certificate from DOE must likewise be secured to sell a specific type and brand of butane in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 1865 and DOE Department Circular 2014-01-0001.
City Attorney Rey Gealon said that dealing with butane, a highly flammable and pressurized gas, poses grave risks which could be aggravated in a public market setting, especially that stalls are very close to one another, making it very dangerous not only to the one selling it but also to other vendors nearby as well as the buying public.
“Stringent laws have to be complied with, such as that required by the Dept of Energy and Bureau of Fire Protection, even before any application will be weighed for approval by the Market Administrator. Public health and safety, let alone “rule of law”, are the primordial considerations of the Mayor for this type of business,” he said. — FPL (FREEMAN)