Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Councilor to traders: Don't overprice LPG
DAVAO City Councilor Pilar C. Braga is appealing to Davao businessmen not to overprice Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanks, saying business operating solely for profit's sake is unchristian.
In her privilege speech during Tuesday's regular council session, Braga urged the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Energy to cleanse the petroleum industry of substandard products and unscrupulous businessmen preying on the consumers with their overpriced but substandard LPG tanks.
Braga said there is a need to establish strict guidelines in the sale, requalification, distribution, and repair of LPG cylinders.
"We have to totally ban the importation of used or second-hand LPG cylinders and the alteration of the same that may result in substandard, leaking marketed LPG units that may cause fire incidents," Braga said.
According to Braga, leaking LPG tanks, next to faulty wiring, is the highest cause of over 300 fires in key cities of the country last year resulting to more than 500 loss of lives, burning more than 1,500 homes at the cost of P60 million.
She added that LPG tanks with no seal or with tampered seals, no registration and with no Product Standard Certificate markings are rampantly sold in the market.
Braga said retailers of LPC tanks such as sari-sari stores and mini-marts are selling and distributing LPG tanks without safety precautions, adding that its price are on a "see-saw."
"Who is the culprit? Unscrupulous businessmen who take advantage of the unsuspecting housewife, retailers who continue to sell sub-standard LPG tanks and worse, the consumer himself who doesn't know his rights," she said.
Braga said she will pass a resolution to enact an ordinance regulating the manufacture, repair, requalification, sale and distribution of LPG cylinders. (BRQ)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 12, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
