Council mulls banning sale of tampered LPG tanks

TUBLAY, Benguet -- The council plans to ban the sale and trade of tampered liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in town.

Councilor Reynaldo Sotero proposed an ordinance titled “An ordinance prohibiting refilling, selling or trading of tampered, dilapidated and substandard LPG cylinders in the municipality of Tublay and prescribing penalties for violations thereof.”

The proponent expressed there is growing clamor from the community to ban and penalize the use of tampered and substandard LPG cylinders.

“This ordinance aims to control, if not totally eliminate, unscrupulous LPG industry owners or traders from selling or trading tampered, dilapidated and substandard LPG cylinders including dealers and retailers who indulge in the sale or trading of under–filled LPG tanks with impunity,” the ordinance explained.

The ordinance identified several duties and responsibilities of LPG dealers and retailers. It stated the dealers and retailers should ensure LPGs are contained in the cylinders that conform to the standards prescribed by competent authority. They should report to authorities any distributor who delivers defective tanks or are engaged in the business without proper authority.

Moreover, dealers and retailers should comply with the regular safety inspection to be conducted by concerned offices.

The ordinance proposes a penalty of revocation of permits, a fine of P2,500 or/and imprisonment or less than one month but not more than six months. The gravity of the penalty will depend on the type of violation.

The ordinance is still under discussions and review of the municipal council.